SCOTLAND

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not separately record claims for evening dress hire.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in his Department are employed on zero-hours contracts.

David Mundell: No staff in the Scotland Office are employed on a zero-hours contract.

Inflation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index measure of inflation, (b) the consumer price index measure of inflation and (c) any alternative measure of inflation.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office uses measures of inflation for a range of analytical purposes, including in respect of the Scottish economy.

Public Opinion

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has conducted any polling or surveys since May 2010.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not conducted any polling or surveys since May 2010.

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

David Mundell: All staff that join the Scotland Office do so on an assignment, or loan from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice. The Office encourages all staff to undertake learning and development activities, the majority of which are provided through the parent bodies' learning and development portals at no direct cost to the Office.
	The Office does not maintain a central record of training courses attended. However, the following table shows direct spending by the Scotland Office on training and the monetary value of the 10 highest training course fees.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Direct spending 10 highest training course fees 
			 2008-09 23,144.94 11,792.50 
			 2009-10 25,297.21 15,173.21 
			 2010-11 12,671.69 9,740.00 
			 2011-12 3,111.33 2,189.00 
			 2012-13 7,314.61 5,565.78

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Michael Moore: The Scotland Office travel subsistence expenses information for the last five years is supplied in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of officials claiming reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses Total cost of claims (£) Monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims (£) 
			 2008-09 37 25,952 10,743 
			 2009-10 42 21,826 7,591 
			 2010-11 37 20,414 7,442 
			 2011-12 38 13,404 4,453 
			 2012-13 32 8,421 4,950

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Apprentices

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many apprenticeships were created by her Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Hugh Robertson: DCMS is fully committed to the apprenticeship scheme and, with The Royal Parks, has agreed to provide at least five apprenticeships every year, going forward. Apprenticeships created by DCMS:
	
		
			  Number 
			 (a) 2010 15 
			 (b) 2011 9 
			 (c) 2012 6 
		
	
	We do not hold information for our arm’s length bodies.

Broadband

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to tackle the practice of slamming in the broadband industry.

Edward Vaizey: This is a matter for the independent communications regulator, Ofcom. DCMS officials have spoken with Ofcom and can advise that:
	Slamming is where someone's broadband or telephone line is switched to another provider without their consent. Ofcom is committed to tackling slamming and has a number of rules in place to prevent it. Ofcom rules explicitly prohibit all companies from engaging in dishonest, misleading or deceptive conduct, and oblige providers to ensure consumers fully understand and consent to a contract before it is agreed.
	There are also a number of safeguards built into the switching process which are specifically designed to protect consumers from being slammed. According to these rules, consumers must receive a letter informing them of the imminent switch, with a 10-day switchover period during which the order can be stopped. Typically, the consumer will receive letters from both companies involved. This gives them the ability to cancel any inadvertent transfer before it happens. Since the introduction of these rules three years ago, the number of average monthly mis-selling and slamming complaints has fallen from 845 per month in the 12 months prior to these rules being introduced, to 460 complaints per month in the last 12 months.
	Ofcom can and will take action if companies repeatedly breach these rules, and has the power to fine providers up to 10% of annual turnover.
	In addition, Ofcom is currently reviewing the switching process for broadband and landline services delivered over BT’s copper telephone network. Ofcom has been consulting on proposed changes to the current process aimed at ensuring there are no undue barriers to switching and guarding against unintended consequences, such as slamming.

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote retail competition in the super-fast broadband market.

Edward Vaizey: The Government are committed to achieving a transformation in broadband in the UK by 2015 and we already have a highly competitive retail broadband market
	Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, is responsible for monitoring the broadband market Where it finds evidence of insufficient competition, or a position of significant market power, Ofcom is required to regulate to promote competition. For example, in the past, Ofcom has required BT to provide access to its street cabinets, through a process known as sub-loop unbundling, and to provide access to its duct and pole infrastructure. These actions in support of competition have led to the UK having one of the most competitive broadband markets in Europe as shown by the European Broadband Scorecard published by Ofcom in March 2013.
	The Scorecard, which focuses on the five leading economies in the EU (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain), found that the UK has some of the lowest fixed and mobile broadband prices among the comparator countries. The proportion of fixed lines operated by the incumbent was the lowest (BT at 31%) and the market share of the largest mobile operator is the joint lowest (EE, with 33%).

Broadband

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory structure of the UK retail super-fast broadband market.

Edward Vaizey: Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, is responsible for monitoring the broadband market within a regulatory framework set by the EU. Consequently it regularly carries out market reviews to ensure competition across all telecommunication services. Where Ofcom finds there is insufficient competition, that is, there is a dominant supplier which is not constrained by competition, it is required to introduce regulation to address this.
	Ofcom has recently commenced a new review of fixed access markets, and this will also help ensure that any future regulatory framework for the retail super-fast broadband market remains effective.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Hugh Robertson: There have been no claims made for evening dress by any officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in the last five years. Information relating to our ALBs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Football: Tickets

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission an investigation into recent trends in football season ticket prices and the effects on consumers of any price rises.

Hugh Robertson: While the Government acknowledge supporters' concerns over recent rises in football season ticket prices, the matter is one for individual football clubs and not for Government.

ICT

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from her Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
	
		
			 2012-13 
			 Item Number 
			 Computers 3 
			 Mobiles 0 
			 Blackberries 0 
			 Other 3 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 
			 Item Number 
			 Computers 0 
			 Mobiles 2 
			 BlackBerrys 2 
			 Other 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 
			 Item Number 
			 Computers 1 
			 Mobiles 0 
			 BlackBerrys 4 
			 Other 5

Mobile Phones

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which company holds the largest contract to provide mobile telephony services to her Department; how much was paid under the contract in the last year for which figures are available; how many individual services are covered by the contract; when the contract was awarded; when the contract will next be renewed; and for how long.

Hugh Robertson: The largest providers of mobile telephone services to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are O2 (for BlackBerry smartphones) and Vodafone (for other mobile phones, pagers and tablets).
	These are employed via call-off agreements from a Government procurement service framework, which operates on a rolling one-year contract. The contract was last renewed in February this year and will be reviewed towards the end of the year to decide what the requirements of the Department will be moving forward.
	The table sets out how much the Department has paid to Vodafone and 02 in 2012-13.
	
		
			 Company Paid to company in 2012-13 (£) Number of handsets 
			 O2 88,963.45 270 
			 Vodafone 17,977.13 46

Olympic Games 2012

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Olympic legacy funding has been spent on (a) sports and (b) the arts; and what proportion remains unspent.

Hugh Robertson: There has never been a single central Government or other pot for funding the various legacy programmes that have been developed as part of the London 2012 games. The legacy programmes are owned and funded by a range of bodies, including Government Departments, arm’s length bodies, the GLA, local authorities, LOCOG and private sector organisations, and relate to sport and healthy living, communities, the economic legacy, regeneration of East London and disability.

Public Lending Right

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the transfer of public lending rights functions to the British Library will require primary legislation.

Edward Vaizey: The Registrar of Public Lending Right is listed in schedule 1 of the Public Bodies Act 2011, which confers a series of order-making powers on Ministers to abolish, merge, or modify constitutional or funding arrangements, or modify or transfer functions of public bodies through secondary legislation.

Public Libraries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information she holds on the charges levied by public libraries for the loan of audio books; and what the income received by each local authority area from this service in the last 12 months was.

Edward Vaizey: The financial information requested is not held centrally by this Department as it is a matter for individual authorities. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collects financial information from library authorities annually, including information relating to the hiring of audio and visual material, and copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the House Library.

Public Libraries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many audio book loans have been recorded in UK public libraries in each year since 2010.

Edward Vaizey: The data requested are not collected by this Department. However the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) collects, annually, information relating to audio book loans from the library authorities and copies of CIPFA statistics are available in the House Library.

Public Libraries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to support the continued operation of libraries in deprived areas; and whether the degree of social deprivation in an area for which library closures are proposed is given weight in deciding whether to launch an inquiry into the closures;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure the survival of branch libraries in areas of deprivation that face closure.

Edward Vaizey: Responsibility and accountability for individual library services is vested in local authorities. Authorities must be able to show that they have discharged their statutory duty to understand the local needs for library services in their area and to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service to meet those needs. DCMS continues to monitor and assess proposals and decisions being made about changes to library services across England.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what processes her Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by her Department.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) monitors and collates cost information on regulations introduced through the Statement of New Regulation. The Statement of New Regulation is a Government-wide publication that lists regulatory and deregulatory measures and their expected impact on businesses.
	DCMS has used the Red Tape Challenge process to review existing regulations, and in particular invite requests from stakeholders to amend or revoke regulations that impose unnecessary burdens on business.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by her Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one-in, one-out and (ii) one-in, two-out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended;
	(2)  if she will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by her Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

Hugh Robertson: The information requested is provided in the following table, based on the following definitions:
	Regulation: a measure within scope of the one-in, one-out (OIOO) or one-in, two-out (OITO)
	Introduced: the date at which a regulation came into force
	Business impact: the annual net cost to business (negative should be interpreted as benefits)
	The one-in, one-out rule came into force in January 2011. The one-in, two-out rule replaced the one-in, one-out rule from January 2013. EU derived regulatory measures are out of the scope of OIOO and OITO. The machinery of government change brought the Government Equalities Office (GEO) under control of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in September 2012. This table also covers the period when GEO was under the control of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
	
		
			 Title of regulation Introduced Legislation Business impact (£ million) 
			 Positive Action—recruitment and promotion in employment (s159 Equality Act 2010) 6 April 2011 New 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Media Ownership (Radio and Cross-Media) Order 2011 15 June 2011 Amend 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Machines in Adult Gaming Centres and Bingo Premises) Order 2011 13 July 2011 Amend -8.6 (OIOO) 
			 The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 5 December 2011 New 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Local Television Programme Services Order 2012 14 February 2012 Amend 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Gambling (Operating Licence and Single-Machine Permit Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 6 April 2012 Amend -0.7 (OIOO) 
			 The Gambling Act 2005 (Amendment of Schedule 6) Order 2012 22 June 2012 Amend -0.1 (OIOO) 
			 The Broadcasting (Local Digital Television Programme Services and Independent Productions) (Amendment) Order 2012 12 July 2012 Amend 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Video Recordings (Labelling) Regulations 2012 30 July 2012 Amend 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Live Music Act 2012 (Commencement) Order 1 October 2012 Amend -0.4 (OIOO) 
			 The Equality Act 2010 (Age Exceptions) Order 2012 1 October 2012 New 0.0 (OIOO) 
			 The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013 6 April 2013 Amend -0.8 (OITO)

Rugby: World Cup

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent the unauthorised resale of tickets to the Rugby World Cup 2015;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the Rugby Football Union and other representatives of the sport with regard to the sale of Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets on the secondary market.

Hugh Robertson: I have regular meetings with the chair and chief executive of England Rugby 2015 and the DCMS representative on the board. We are in discussions with ER 2015 about how best Government can help them deliver a great tournament. This is one of the issues my officials are looking at with them.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

Hugh Robertson: The information requested could be compiled only through incurring disproportionate costs.

Sports: Public Appointments

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) Sport England, (b) UK Sport and (c) other Secretaries of State about the appointment of the new chairs of (i) Sport England and (ii) UK Sport.

Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with that code both organisations advised on the skills needed to chair both boards.

Sports: Public Appointments

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recommendations the interview panel chaired by Sir Keith Mills gave on the appointments of the new chairs of (a) UK Sport and (b) Sport England.

Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with the code, an independent selection panel was chaired by a public appointments assessor, appointed by the commissioner. The panel report described the conduct of the selection process and is confidential.

Sports: Public Appointments

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what process the new chair of (a) Sport England and (b) UK Sport was appointed.

Hugh Robertson: The appointment process was conducted under the terms of the OCPA code.

Sports: Public Appointments

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recommendation the (a) Minister of State for Sport and Tourism and (b) the Olympics legacy ambassador made about the appointments of the new chairs of (i) UK Sport and (ii) Sport England.

Hugh Robertson: The appointments were made in accordance with the OCPA code. My views were taken into account, as part of the appointments process. The Olympics legacy ambassador was not involved in the appointment process.

Tourism

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote the whole of the UK as a holiday destination to international tourists.

Hugh Robertson: Through VisitBritain, we have created the biggest ever international tourism campaign, as we look to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by 2012. Government have invested £50 million in a £100 million tactical marketing campaign and £34.5 million in the tourism pillar of the GREAT Britain image campaign. Together they will deliver 4.7 million extra visitors and £2.3 billion additional spend over four years. All the UK will continue to benefit from this funding.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department plans to begin applying the findings of its new biomass emissions calculator.

Michael Fallon: We are developing a model to investigate the possible carbon impacts of different bioenergy feedstocks and different land uses, to help ensure we have robust evidence behind our bioenergy policies. A preliminary version of the tool has been discussed with stakeholders, as part of a peer review process. We are aiming to publish this tool in the summer. The model is not intended as a tool for regulation.

Coal Gasification

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make a statement on underground coal gasification technology.

Michael Fallon: Underground coal gasification (UCG) involves the partial in-situ combustion of deep underground coal seams to produce a gas for use as an energy source. UCG is very much in its infancy at this stage, but I am keen that we play our part in creating a regulatory environment which helps rather than hinders those with ambitions in the sector. Our NDPB, the Coal Authority, is very much in the lead as the freehold owner of the coal resource and the licensing body for the exploitation of coal. The authority has to date issued some 14 conditional near offshore UCG licences to companies keen to pursue the technology further in Great Britain. These enable prospective operators to secure the rights to the coal while projects are developed, but importantly do not permit UCG operations to commence until all other rights and permissions are in place.

Energy Efficiency Deployment Office

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the progress of the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office in delivering its national energy efficiency strategy.

Gregory Barker: The Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) is currently implementing the energy efficiency strategy, which we published in November 2012. We are actively monitoring progress against our commitments, and will report on this and the Government’s other energy efficiency achievements and priorities in the energy efficiency strategy update in November 2013.

Energy Efficiency Deployment Office

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total cost of the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office has been to date.

Gregory Barker: Since its launch in February 2012, the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) has incurred running costs of £5.83 million (total confirmed administrative costs for financial year 2011-12 and 2012-13).
	In addition, EEDO co-ordinates a research and development budget (total £3.53 million to end 2012-13) which supports the wider International Climate Change and Energy Efficiency business group. EEDO now has responsibility for the Salix Fund (to which it has provided £38 million capital spend, to end 2012-13). EEDO initially had responsibility for a £22.5 million rural development agencies programme, but it has since transferred to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Energy Efficiency Deployment Office

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many of his Department’s officials work at the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office.

Gregory Barker: As of 16 May 2013, 41 of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s officials worked within the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO). In addition, EEDO employs a non-executive chair (part-time) and an engineering specialist, who are not departmental officials. As EEDO also hosts a number of EEDO economists who work to support other teams, and has several vacancies, it expects to operate at around 50 FTE for the rest of 2013-14.
	A number of EEDO officials provide dedicated support to specific energy efficiency programmes like the Green Deal and others have cross-cutting roles across the wider International Climate Change and Energy Efficiency group.

Energy: Competition

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 March 2013, Official Report, column 465, on energy market competition, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of low liquidity in the wholesale power market on new market participants entering the energy market.

Michael Fallon: We believe low wholesale market liquidity, in the forward markets especially, is acting as a barrier to entry for new market participants.
	In order to compete in the generation and retail markets, new entrants and potential new entrants, need to be able to manage their risks by trading forwards. Poor liquidity in the forward markets, therefore, reduces risk management opportunities and, along with the cost of trading, acts as a key barrier to entry and greater competition.
	Ofgem is currently taking forward reforms to address liquidity concerns and we are encouraged by its indication of a strong preference for intervention, with a decision expected by summer 2013. Given the importance of liquidity to competition, Government are also seeking backstop powers in the current Energy Bill to address the issue if it proves necessary.

Energy: Foreign Investment in UK

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 14 March 2013, Official Report, column 464, on new generating capacity (investment), what evidential basis he used to state that the UK is one of the most attractive places in the world to invest in energy infrastructure.

Michael Fallon: The UK is an attractive and welcoming destination for energy investment and is attracting interest from potential new investors across renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage. Ernst & Young's most recent attractiveness indices rated the UK as one of the top six worldwide destinations to invest in renewable energy (February 2013). The UK has the most installed offshore wind capacity in the world and we have the four largest offshore wind farms. We also have more installed wave and tidal capacity than any other country.
	The current Energy Bill will further improve the attractiveness of the UK market, with contracts for difference, providing long-term revenue stabilisation for low-carbon generators, and powers to introduce a capacity market to incentivise reliable capacity.

Energy: Housing

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many off-gas grid installations he expects to be delivered under the renewable heat premium payment.

Gregory Barker: Phase 1 of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme delivered 5,417 off-gas grid installations. The Energy Saving Trust is still processing outstanding claims made under phase 2. A small number of existing projects have until 30 June 2013 to complete, but we estimate that a further 9,000 off-gas grid installations will be delivered.
	In addition, we are hoping to see at least another 9,000 off-gas grid installations this financial year following the extension of the scheme.

Energy: Housing

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government are taking to ensure that off-grid customers benefit from fuel efficiency and other assistance programmes commensurate with assistance available to on-grid households.

Gregory Barker: We are helping people to cut their energy waste through a variety of policies that are available to consumers whether they are on or off-grid, such as the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.
	We also provide Ofgem with enabling powers to ensure that around 9,000 consumers in remote communities can receive gas at a similar price to consumers elsewhere in GB. This protects some of the most vulnerable gas customers.

Energy: Subsidies

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how much his Department has given in subsidy to RWE Npower in each of the last five years; and to what projects such money was allocated;
	(2)  how much his Department has given in subsidies to EDF in each of the last five years; and to what projects such money was allocated;
	(3)  how much his Department has given in subsidies to E.ON in each of the last five years; and for which projects this money was earmarked;
	(4)  how much his Department has given in subsidies to British Gas in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated;
	(5)  how much his Department has given in subsidies to SSE in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated;
	(6)  how much his Department has given in subsidies to Scottish Power in each of the last five years; and to which projects such money was allocated.

Michael Fallon: The data are not collected in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Green Deal Scheme

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many Green Deal assessments took place in (a) Scotland, (b) England and Wales, (c) Wales in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March and (iv) April 2013.

Gregory Barker: The latest Green Deal and energy company obligation monthly statistics, as released on 14 May:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-monthly-statistics-may-2013
	report the following number of Green Deal assessments lodged in each month, for the whole of Great Britain:
	
		
			  Number 
			 January 2013 74 
			 February 2013 1,729 
			 March 2013 7,491 
			 April 2013 9,522 
		
	
	DECC will publish, on 27 June, our first quarterly official statistics publication which will contain more detailed analysis of Green Deal assessments lodged up to the end of March.

Inflation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index measure of inflation, (b) the consumer price index measure of inflation and (c) any alternative measure of inflation.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change uses relevant inflation indices where appropriate. Significant applications are:
	The Retail Price Index
	The DECC statistics team republishes the energy components of the RPI within tables 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 of our Quarterly Energy Prices publication. The DECC statistics and fuel poverty teams use the data for price indicators for non-metered energy fuels. We are likely to switch from using the RPI to the CPI later this year following recent changes to the designation of the RPI series by the UK Statistics Authority.
	Where contractually obliged, the Department refers to relevant RPI indices when assessing specific historic energy liabilities. These are payments for historic fuel liabilities resulting from the British Energy restructuring in 2005, and the cost of providing either solid fuel or a cash alternative to ex-miners and their dependents under the National Concessionary Fuel scheme.
	The Levy Control Framework does not use any particular inflator, but constituent schemes (Warm Homes Discount, Renewable Obligation, Feed in Tariffs, FiTs Contract for Difference) are uplifted where necessary using either the RPI or CPI, as dictated by the relevant policy.
	For the Renewable Heat Incentive, the RPI is used to express prices in nominal terms. This means that the tariff received, and the total spend under the RHI, is expressed in the price level of the year in question.
	For the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme the methodology used to project the revenue to Government from the sale of CRC allowances is based on the prices announced by Government adjusted in line with Retail Price Index thereafter.
	The Consumer Price Index
	The CPI is used for the gas price projections in the latest published DECC fossil fuel price projections (2012).
	Alternative measures of inflation
	The DECC statistics team use the GDP deflator published by the Office for National Statistics to show data in real or constant price terms.
	Coal price projections use the International Monetary Fund's GDP deflator.

Natural Gas: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the quantity of coal gas off the coast of North Wales;
	(2)  what public consultation has taken place concerning the exploration and extraction of coal gas off the coast of North Wales;
	(3)  what licences have been issued for the purpose of coal gas exploration and extraction off the coast of North Wales;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the potential environmental effect of coal gas exploration off the North Wales coast;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of health and safety procedures used for the flooding of the Point of Ayr colliery pit; what information his Department holds on any proposed gas and mineral extraction from the (a) onshore and (b) offshore areas near to the pit; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what licences have been issued for the purpose of mineral and gas extraction in North Wales in each of the last 10 years; what the name was of each company to which a licence was granted; and in which year each such licence was issued.

Michael Fallon: “Coal gas” could refer to production by in-situ combustion of coal of a mixture of combustible gases, a process usually known as underground coal gasification or UCG; or extraction of methane from coal seams by drilling, usually known as coal bed methane or CBM.
	As regards licences for areas off the coast of North Wales:
	In January 2013 the Coal Authority issued a conditional licence to Cluff Natural Resources plc for the potential development of a UCG project in the Dee estuary.
	Seaward Production Licence P1481 was issued by the Department on 13 June 2007 and it is currently held by Island Gas Ltd.
	No assessment has been made by DECC of the magnitude of either resource, or of potential environmental effects, and no public consultation has been conducted. It is expected that any near-shore development of either type would in practice be carried out from facilities located onshore, but no planning application for either activity has been made to date. It would be for the relevant planning authority, as and when any such application may be made, to consider the environmental effects and conduct appropriate public consultation.
	In the last 10 years five Petroleum Act licences covering acreage some or all of which lies in North Wales have been issued:
	PEDL147 was awarded 1 April 2005 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited;
	PEDL184 was awarded 8 October 2008 and is currently held by Island Gas Limited;
	PEDL185 was awarded 3 September 2008 and is currently held by Dart Energy (West England) Limited;
	PEDL186 was awarded 4 September 2008 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited; and
	PEDL187 was awarded 4 September 2008 and is currently held by GP Energy Limited.
	In addition, PEDL107, currently held by Island Gas Limited, was issued on 11 March 2002; it is included here because its licensed area lies close to Point of Ayr. None of these licences are specific to particular forms of gas; they all cover all native hydrocarbons. They do not give permission for any specific operations. Any questions about what a licensee plans to do in the future should be addressed to the licensee himself.
	A licence for surface mining of coal was granted to Brymbo Developments on 4 December 2003. The site, at Brymbo near Wrexham, worked from January 2004 until September 2005 and produced some 87,500 tonnes of coal. The licence expired on 15 November 2005.
	Health and safety considerations around the closure of any coal mine are matters for the operator in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the offshore oil and gas (a) workforce and (b) industry of the draft European Union directive on offshore safety.

Michael Fallon: The UK argued successfully for a directive, as opposed to a regulation, on offshore safety.
	As the draft directive largely duplicates our existing UK regime the workforce will continue to be protected by a robust framework and the economic effects on the industry are therefore likely to be far less than those of a regulation.
	An impact assessment will be prepared when legislative proposals are made to implement the final text of the directive.

Pay

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) average and (b) total amount paid in bonuses to staff at his Department was in 2012-13.

Gregory Barker: The details of the average and the total amount of the in-year and end-of-year non-consolidated performance related awards paid by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for 2012-13 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Description 2012-13 (£) 
			 Average amount of bonus 792 
			 Total amount of bonus paid 1,098,883

Radioactive Waste

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had since 30 January 2013 on the reviewing of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme; and if he will place in the Library and (b) post on his Department's website minutes of each such meeting.

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy (Baroness Verma), had one meeting in February with the hon. Member for Copeland (Mr Reed), and the hon. Member for Workington (Sir Tony Cunningham), and the leaders of Allerdale borough council and Copeland borough council. The minutes of this meeting have been released publicly:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138342/FOI_EIR_13_0235_for_website.pdf
	The noble Baroness attended the February meeting of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Nuclear NGO Forum, which was also attended by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Environment Agency, where she discussed the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely (MRWS) programme with a range of non-governmental organisations, listed in the answer given today to your parliamentary question 154473. Minutes of this meeting will be published on the gov.uk website in due course.
	Both meetings were in the context of the Government's efforts to learn the lessons of the MRWS programme's experience to date. A public call for evidence on the site selection process of the MRWS programme was announced on 13 May 2013.

Radioactive Waste: Cumbria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which organisations and stakeholder groups (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met as part of the review of nuclear waste management strategy following the decision of Cumbria county council on the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme since 30 January 2013; and when the Geological Disposal Implementation Board last met to discuss the matter.

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, Baroness Verma, had one meeting in February with the hon. Member for Copeland (Mr Reed), the hon. Member for Workington (Sir Tony Cunningham), and the leaders of Allerdale borough council and Copeland borough council.
	The noble Baroness attended the February meeting of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Nuclear NGO Forum, which was also attended by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Environment Agency, where she discussed the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme with the range of non-governmental organisations present: Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group, Parents Concerned About Hinkley, Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy, Low Level Radiation Campaign, Bradwell for Renewable Energy, Ayrshire Radiation Monitoring Group, Greenpeace, Nuclear Free local authorities, Stop Hinkley, Save Our Lake District, People Against Wylfa-B, West Cumbria and North Lakes Friends of the Earth, Nuclear Information Service, Socialist Environment and Resources Association, and the Low-level Radiation and Health Conference.
	Both meetings were in the context of the Government's efforts to learn the lessons of the MRWS programme's experience to date. A public call for evidence on the site selection process of the MRWS programme was announced on 13 May 2013.
	The Geological Disposal Implementation Board has not met since the decisions by the local authorities in Cumbria.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department.

Gregory Barker: Every six months the Government publish overarching statements of new regulation. These statements list the regulations that each Department expects to introduce over the coming six months. They also include an account of the Government's performance under “one in, one out” and, more recently, “one in, two out”, broken down by Department, showing the net business impact of the regulations added and removed by each Department. Published Statements of New Regulation are available at:
	www.gov.uk
	The Department publishes its own statements of new regulation, and it also publishes impact assessments on all regulations which impose significant cost to business. These impact assessments are available from:
	www.legislation.gov.uk
	The Department includes review or sunset clauses in new regulations where appropriate, to ensure they continue to be scrutinised. We also have a strong programme of monitoring and evaluation embedded in our systems for policy and programme management. Specific focus is given to policies and programmes that are high risk or high uncertainty, large-scale or high-profile, amenable to real learning or pilots. The Department will also be producing scrutiny memoranda on certain Acts for which it is responsible to enable the Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change to decide whether a fuller post-legislative inquiry would be appropriate in relation to any of them.
	We consulted our stakeholders on DECC's regulations as part of the Red Tape Challenge and we are in the process of implementing the outcomes. We are always happy to consider new suggestions for how our regulations can be improved.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one-in, one-out and (ii) one-in, two-out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended.

Gregory Barker: I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by his Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

Gregory Barker: I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the remit of the low carbon communities challenge; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: We conducted an evaluation of the low carbon communities challenge project and published a report synthesising the results in July 2012, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-carbon-communities-challenge-evaluation-report

Renewable Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of incentives that will exist for the purchase of renewable energy from independent generators when the renewables obligation ends.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 16 May 2013
	During our call for evidence last year, we heard concerns that some independent renewable generators are finding it more difficult to secure long-term contracts to sell their power on viable terms, and that this situation may persist as we move from the renewables obligation to the contract for difference support mechanism.
	The Government's view is that contracts for difference (CfDs) will open up new opportunities for independent generation developers and will support the development of a more competitive market for power purchase agreements. Government are working closely with industry to smooth the transition to the new regime, and have included powers in the Energy Bill to give them the flexibility to act to improve the route to market for independents if it becomes necessary. Government are also considering whether there is a case for further action to ensure that the market is ready for the CfD and that independent generators are able actively to participate in it.

Renewable Energy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the amount of funding provided by (a) wind energy companies and (b) coal or gas companies for community benefit schemes.

Gregory Barker: The Government have not made an estimate of the amount of funding provided by wind energy, coal or gas companies. However, some companies provide community benefits on a voluntary basis.

Renewable Energy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which projects are currently prioritised by the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment; what financial support is currently provided for each such project; what roadshows have been held promoting the take-up of these technologies; what liaison the Office has had with the related offices in each of the devolved Administrations on each project; and which projects are jointly being developed with EU institutions having the mission to promote and develop renewable energy technologies.

Gregory Barker: The Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED) does not prioritise individual renewable energy projects.
	In 2011 ORED published a renewable energy roadmap that sets out how the Government expect to reach their goal of generating 15% of energy use from renewable sources by 2020. The roadmap, as updated in 2012, focuses on eight key technologies that have either the greatest potential to help meet the 2020 target in a cost-effective and sustainable way, or offer the greatest potential for the UK in the decades that follow. In no priority order, these technologies are:
	onshore wind
	offshore wind
	marine energy
	biomass electricity
	biomass heat
	air source and ground source heat pumps
	renewable transport
	solar.
	ORED has not held any roadshows promoting any of these technologies.
	The renewable obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme provide market-based support for large- scale and small-scale low carbon technologies.
	Officials from ORED are in regular dialogue with related offices in the devolved Administrations on a number of issues of joint interest, such as support mechanisms available to renewable technologies, investment opportunities in renewables and the UK renewables supply chain.
	Likewise, ORED officials engage with EU institutions to promote and develop renewable energy technologies. For example, officials are currently working to support the delivery of two tidal projects funded through the EU New Entrant Reserve (NER) 300 fund.

Wind Power

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the onshore wind call for evidence will be published.

Michael Fallon: We are finalising the Government response to the onshore wind call for evidence and will publish a report on Part A (Community Engagement and Benefits) and Part B (Costs) shortly.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Carbon Monoxide

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many instances of carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of faulty solid fuel burners there have been in each year since 2010.

Don Foster: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The most recent statistics available on carbon monoxide poisoning are set out in the annual report of the cross- Government group on gas safety and carbon monoxide awareness. This is available on the Health and Safety Executive's website at:
	www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group.htm
	The impact assessment supporting the Building and Approved Inspectors (Amendment) Regulations 2010 SI. No. 719 includes an analysis of fatalities caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from solid fuel appliances for the years 2002 to 2008. This is available on the legislation.gov.uk website at:
	www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2010/88/pdfs/ukia_20100088.pdf

Change of Use

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his statement of 9 May 2013, Official Report, columns 4-6WS, on planning: re-use of buildings, 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of public houses of his proposal to allow businesses currently covered by A1, A2 and A3 use classes to open up in premises currently used as a public house without having to apply for planning permission;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the likely effect on public health of enabling fast food premises to open up using the new permitted development rights in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2 premises;
	(3)  what permission will businesses that have opened up using permitted development rights in A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B1, D1 and D2 premises have to apply for once two years have elapsed.

Nicholas Boles: Existing permitted development rights allow for public houses to change use to businesses within the Al, A2 and A3 use classes. The new relaxations will not change this position. Hot-food takeaways are within the A5 use class. The new permitted development rights allow for change of use away from A5 use but not for conversion to A5 use. Businesses using the new temporary permitted development rights can seek full planning permission at any time during the two-year period. Ministers meet regularly to discuss Government business, and these changes were agreed across Government in the usual way.

Change of Use

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on pubs of the introduction of a flexible use class to ease temporary change of use on the high street;
	(2)  how his Department will monitor the effect on his decision to introduce a new flexible use class on (a) the high street and (b) agricultural communities;
	(3)  to which organisations (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department spoke in advance of the announcement made last week that new permitted development rights would be put in place for change of use on the high street.

Nicholas Boles: A final impact assessment for the new permitted development rights to promote the reuse of existing buildings, taking account of consultation responses, is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/197804/reuse_of_existing_buildings_-_impact_assessment.pdf
	We are committed to supporting community pubs, and local authorities have tools they can use where locally appropriate to protect pubs, for example by introducing an article 4 direction or including relevant policies in their local plan.
	We will continue to keep the operation of the use class system under review. Our approach to monitoring and review of the changes is set out in the explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 which is available at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1101/memorandum/contents
	The changes set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 were the result of a call for evidence on changes to handling change of use in 2011, and a formal consultation exercise on proposals for making better use of existing buildings in 2012. They also implement recommendations from Mary Portas's review to reduce restrictive planning red tape. This provided for discussions with key partners and other Government Departments to inform the final policy.

Change of Use

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what timescale he has put in place to assess the effect of the new office to residential permitted development right;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to consider further exemptions from the new office to residential permitted development right;
	(3)  what plans his Department has to review the areas excluded from the new office to residential permitted development right;
	(4)  for how long exemptions from the new office to residential permitted development right will remain in place;
	(5)  what criteria were used to decide which areas should be exempt from the new office to residential permitted development right;
	(6)  how many local authorities submitted a request for exemption, for all or part of their local authority area, from the new office to residential permitted development right.

Nicholas Boles: Our approach to monitoring and review of the changes is set out in the explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2013 which is available at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1101/memorandum/contents
	The Department for Communities and Local Government received requests for exemption from the permitted development rights for change of use from office to residential uses from 165 local planning authorities. A robust and thorough assessment of all requests was carried out against the criteria set out in the chief planner's letter of 24 January, taking into account the strength of the case and the robustness of the supporting evidence. Following this assessment process there will not be another opportunity to request an exemption during the three-year period that the new rights are in place.

Children: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many children in Barnsley Central constituency are currently living in temporary accommodation; and what such figures were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012;
	(2)  how many households with children in Barnsley Central constituency were accepted as homeless in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 May 2013
	The following tables show (i) the number of children living in temporary accommodation as at 31 December (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 and (ii) the number of households with children accepted as homeless in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13.
	
		
			 Number of children in temporary accommodation—Barnsley 
			 As at end 31 December each year: Number 
			 2010 10 
			 2011 9 
			 2012 5 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of families with children accepted as being homeless—Barnsley 
			  Number 
			 2010-11 49 
			 2011-12 31 
			 2012-13 (April-December) 19 
			 Source: DCLG P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly) 
		
	
	Figures for children in temporary accommodation as at 31 March 2013 and families accepted as homeless during January to March 2013 will be published on 6 June.
	The Barnsley Central constituency falls wholly within the area of Barnsley council. The area of Barnsley council also includes parts of Penistone and Stocksbridge, Wentworth and Dearne, and Barnsley East constituencies.
	We are determined to tackle the problem of homeless families. Since 9 November 2012, local authorities have had new powers under the Localism Act 2011 to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families will no longer need to always be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.
	At the same time, we have also put in place extra protection for the most vulnerable. The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 will help prevent the use of temporary accommodation that is long distances from the families’ previous home and community.
	For households already in temporary accommodation the local authority has a duty (under section 193 of the Housing Act) to find that family settled accommodation. Local authorities should continue to work with these households to discuss alternative housing options as they become available.

Fire Stations: West Midlands

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire stations there were in (a) Birmingham and (b) the west midlands in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to his question of 15 May 2013, Official Report, column 286W.

Fracking: Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to publish regulations outlining the circumstances in which an environmental impact assessment is required to accompany a planning application for a new fracking site.

Nicholas Boles: No. Applications for new fracking sites, whether for exploratory drilling or full production, are already within the scope of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. Whether an environmental impact assessment is required will depend on the circumstance of each application.

Housing: Disability

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Ministers in the devolved Administrations on best practice in provision of housing for individuals with disabilities;
	(2)  when he or Ministers in his Department last met representatives of people with disabilities to discuss housing provision.

Mark Prisk: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are routinely published on my Department's website.
	Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly engage with colleagues from the devolved Administrations and discuss a range of matters.
	My Department secured £725 million for the disabled facilities grant during the current spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15). Over the last two years, the Government have provided a further £60 million for the grant, bringing the total over the spending review period to £785 million.
	As part of last year's Social Care White Paper, the Government launched the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund, making up to £300 million available to support and accelerate the development of the specialised housing market for older and disabled adults.

Local Government: Employment

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rules exist regarding the employment of outgoing council employees by private employers with whom their former council has a contractual relationship.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 16 May 2013
	Local authorities are independent employers in their own right. As such, it is for each to ensure that they manage their work forces, including the appointment and departure of staff, in a way that protects against conflicts of interest. While there is no statutory requirement for authorities to have in place a code of conduct for officers, many have established such arrangements locally.

Non-domestic Rates: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will ensure that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth, provides a formal response and actions to be taken following the meeting held on 26 February 2013 between himself, the hon. Member for Hartlepool and representatives from Hartlepool borough council in respect of business rates and the impact from Hartlepool nuclear power station.

Brandon Lewis: Since my meeting with the hon. Member for Hartlepool and Hartlepool borough council we have made regulations to introduce a safety net which effectively guarantees authorities 92.5% of their baseline funding under the rates retention scheme. This will provide support to authorities who experience a significant decline in business rates income, for example as a result of unplanned outages at large power stations. We have also adjusted the starting position for local authorities so that they have extra financial head room to reflect the costs of future appeals losses. We have established a new working group with local government to look at the implementation of the rates retention scheme.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used to determine the proportion of the possible £7,000 a neighbourhood forum will receive towards its costs.

Nicholas Boles: Under the new Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning programme, which opened for applications on 1 May 2013, communities undertaking neighbourhood planning can apply for grants of up to £7,000 per neighbourhood area, to contribute to costs incurred by the group in preparing a neighbourhood plan or order, as long as the group has a plan for how to spend it, and the costs cannot be met from other sources.
	Applications for a grant from eligible applicants will be assessed based on the information provided in the application form and against the following criteria:
	1. Is all the proposed expenditure eligible? (the total amount of grant awarded will be reduced for any items of ineligible expenditure)
	2. Is there a clear need for the project spend?
	3. Is there evidence of how the planned activities will help the group progress towards a neighbourhood plan for their area?
	4. Is the project realistic and achievable? Can the activities be delivered in the timetable given?
	5. Are the project costs reasonable and do they add up?
	6. Does the project demonstrate value for money in terms of the relationship between cost and benefit?
	Details, application forms and guidance can be found at:
	http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/neighbourhood-planning/
	Neighbourhood planning groups can also apply for direct support, and can receive both direct support and grant.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the total cost to a neighbourhood planning forum of drawing up and holding a referendum on a draft neighbourhood plan.

Nicholas Boles: Neighbourhood planning is a flexible tool designed to enable communities to make their own choices as to what issues they wish to address in their neighbourhood. As a consequence the costs of preparing neighbourhood plans will vary depending on the complexity and size of the proposal, and the available supporting evidence. We anticipate that the costs of neighbourhood planning will decrease as experience builds and there are more examples, templates and opportunities to share learning for communities doing neighbourhood planning. The impact assessment produced in 2012 discussed the potential costs of neighbourhood planning. It can be found at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2012/9780111525050/pdfs/ukdsifia_9780111525050_en.pdf
	Neighbourhood planning forums will incur no cost for holding a neighbourhood planning referendum; these costs will be covered by the local authority. The Government have agreed that all new burdens placed on local authorities by central Government must be assessed, and fully and properly funded. Local authorities can claim up to £30,000 per neighbourhood planning area to enable them to meet legislative duties on neighbourhood planning, including the cost of making arrangements for a referendum.

Planning Permission: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeowner planning applications made in Bassetlaw constituency were (a) approved and (b) rejected in 2012; and how many such applications were approved or rejected at (i) officer and (ii) plans sub-committee level.

Nicholas Boles: In 2012 there were a total of 332 householder applications decided in the local authority of Bassetlaw, of which 303 were approved and 29 were rejected. Information is not centrally available on the number of such applications approved or rejected at officer or sub-committee level.
	This approval rate of 91% illustrates the scope for reforms of the householder planning process, to take uncontroversial, small-scale applications for home improvements out of the full planning system.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department.

Nicholas Boles: The Government introduced a one-in, one-out system for regulations on 1 September 2010 applying to regulations from 1 January 2011, which was replaced by a one-in, two-out system on 1 January 2013. All measures that have a regulatory or deregulatory impact on business and civil society organisations are in scope of these systems. Regulations introduced by the Department, that are in scope of the one-in, one-out or one-in, two-out system, are monitored in the statements of new regulation. These statements also collate cost information for each regulation. In addition, the statements include EU regulations and any Red Tape Challenge measures. The most recent statement of new regulation can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dclg-statement-of-new-regulation-1-january-to-30-june-2013
	The Red Tape Challenge is a cross-Government programme through which we review and improve our stock of regulation. The Department leads two Red Tape Challenge themes; one on housing and construction and one on planning administration. Through the Red Tape Challenge the Department's regulations within these themes are reviewed on the Red Tape Challenge website. Requests to keep, amend or revoke regulations are considered in the resulting proposals which are put to the Reducing Regulation Committee.

Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the equality of access available for deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language in terms of communicating with (a) local councillors and local government workers and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures his Department has in place to ensure that deaf people have the opportunity to communicate in British Sign Language with (a) local councillors and local government workers and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible.

Brandon Lewis: The responsibility for providing appropriate support to enable meaningful communication with deaf people lies with local public bodies. All local authorities, other public bodies and agencies listed under schedule 19 of the Equality Act 2010 have a legal responsibility under section 20 and 29(7) to make 'reasonable adjustments', which means for example providing information in an accessible format to allow deaf people to have equal access to their services.

Social Rented Housing

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from social housing providers on the effect on their budgets of planned welfare reform changes and the risk of increased movements of tenants, non-payment of rent and number of voids. [R]

Mark Prisk: Ministers and officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government are in regular contact with social housing providers across a range of issues.
	My Department and the Department for Work and Pensions recognise the importance of protecting the budgets of social housing providers as our welfare reform changes are implemented. This is shown through our close working with a group of social landlords on the direct payment demonstration projects, which are testing the impact of the payment of housing benefit direct to tenants. A key aim of the demonstration projects is to explore how we can best protect social landlords, and tenants themselves, from the risk of increases in rent arrears. We intend to use the evidence gathered from the projects to inform the design of universal credit, including the safeguards needed to protect the financial position of social landlords and prevent tenants from falling into significant debt. We are also co-funding a learning network to capture the lessons from the demonstration projects, and encourage the sharing of best practice and information, to help social landlords prepare for direct payment.
	In addition, the removal of the spare room subsidy will be monitored and evaluated over a two year period from April this year, with initial findings available in 2014 and a final report in late 2015. Among other questions, the evaluation will consider the impact of the measure on landlords' finances, by means of small-scale primary research with a range of social landlords.
	The 2012 Global Accounts of housing providers, published by the Homes and Communities Agency in March, show that tenant arrears have fallen in the last year and the overall financial performance of the sector has improved compared with the year before.

Social Rented Housing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are currently on a waiting list for social housing in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England; and how many such people are currently homeless.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 May 2013
	Statistics on the number of households on social housing waiting lists for each local authority district in England in 2011-12 are published in the statistical dataset accompanying the Department's Local Authority Housing Statistics release, which is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2011-to-2012
	(see tab C)
	The dataset also records the number of households on waiting lists that fall into the following reasonable preference groups:
	people who are homeless within the meaning of part VII of the Housing Act (regardless of whether or not they are owed a statutory homelessness duty)
	people owed a homelessness duty.
	Through the Localism Act we have given local authorities much greater flexibility to manage their housing waiting list; and we have broken the link between homelessness and social housing by giving authorities the freedom to end the homelessness duty with private rented accommodation.
	This information is not available at a constituency level.

Social Rented Housing

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social housing units there are in England; how many such houses are unoccupied; and what the annual turnover of occupancy rate of such housing has been in each of the last five years.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 16 May 2013
	Information is collected about social housing dwelling stock and vacant properties owned by both private registered providers (housing associations) and local authorities. Statistics on private registered provider and local authority dwelling stock and vacant properties in England for the period from 2007-08 to 2011 -12 are published in the Department's live tables 104 and 615, which are available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
	The Department does not collect or publish statistics on the turnover of occupancy rate of social housing but based on stock and lettings figures this can be estimated to be approximately 10% each year for the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Licence Reviews

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many alcohol licence reviews have taken place due to the premises in question selling non duty paid alcohol in the last three years;
	(2)  how many licence reviews have taken place due to the premises in question serving customers that were drunk, in the last year for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many cumulative impact zones there are in England and Wales.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office collects data on reasons for licence reviews within the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Statistical Bulletin. However, this information cannot be broken down further to the requested level of detail.
	Based on returns received from 336 of the 350 licensing authorities in England and Wales, there were 160 cumulative impact areas in place on 31 March 2012.

Alcoholic Drinks: Designated Public Places Orders

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many designated public place orders there are in England and Wales.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office does not publish official statistics on the number of designated public place orders (DPPO) in force. Based on data provided by local authorities, who are requested to notify the Home Office whenever a DPPO is made, we believe there have been a total of 852 DPPOs issued nationally since their introduction in 2001. This data is correct as of 15 May 2013.

Alcoholic Drinks: Sales

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effect on businesses of the ban on multi-buy alcohol promotions in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Government recently consulted on whether to introduce a ban on multi-buy promotions in the off-trade. The Government are currently analysing all responses and available evidence and will publish a response to the consultation in due course.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer from the Leader of the House of 18 April 2013, Official Report, column 503, when she expects her Department's inspectors to make recommendations relating to allegations of cruelty and bad practice at Imperial College, London; and if she will place the findings of this inspection in the Library.

James Brokenshire: The use of living animals in scientific procedures which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm is strictly regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	We are determined to ensure animal research is carried out humanely and only when necessary and any reports suggesting that individuals or establishments are falling short of the high standards required by the 1986 Act are taken extremely seriously.
	Home Office inspectors are investigating the allegations of cruelty and bad practice at the Imperial College Hammersmith campus as a matter of urgency and will submit a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. A fuller report and recommendations will be completed by mid-July 2013. A copy of that report will be placed in the Library.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of risk rating was assigned to Imperial College London by her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit during 2012; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: It is not Home Office policy to disclose the risk assessment of an establishment licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 other than to the relevant establishment. The risk assessment is reviewed after each visit of inspection and is discussed at least annually with the establishment licence holder. The risk assessment is used to determine the frequency, duration and style of inspection and may vary as any relevant risks change. From January 2012 to March 2013 inclusive, Home Office inspectors made 48 visits to Imperial College in line with the risk assessment at that time.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will increase the number of inspectors employed within her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: We have no plans to do so. However, Inspectorate staffing is kept under regular review taking account of the expected workload. We are committed to maintaining a strong and properly resourced inspectorate and a full, risk-based programme of inspections.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will suspend or revoke the establishment licence for Imperial College London to conduct animal research under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: We have no current plans to do so. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 provides powers for the Secretary of State to suspend or revoke a licence issued under the Act in any case in which it appears appropriate to do so. The Home Office Inspectorate is investigating recent allegations of cruel treatment of animals, poor training and poor supervision at the Imperial College London Hammersmith Campus and delivered a preliminary report on 13 May 2013. This did not recommend immediate suspension or revocation of any relevant licences held at Imperial College London. The Inspectorate will provide a fuller report and recommendations by mid-July 2013. Further decisions on any action that may be appropriate will be considered in the light of those recommendations.

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the level of risk rating assigned to Imperial College London by her Department's Animals in Science Regulation Unit has changed in the last six months; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not assign a risk rating to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU). ASRU maintains a register of operational and other risks and associated mitigating actions which it reviews regularly and adjusts as and when necessary.

Antisocial Behaviour

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will introduce a maximum reporting cap for the activation of the community trigger; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: We have proposed a national maximum threshold of three complaints to activate the community trigger as set out in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. However, local agencies are able to set the threshold even lower if they believe it would better reflect the needs of their community.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

James Brokenshire: The Department's accounting system does not identify information of this kind.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  with reference to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev, whether the Government plan to support the resolution;
	(2)  with reference to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev, what her policy is on the request to fully utilise the UN conventions against transnational organised crime and against corruption to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, and to implement measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora, including the adoption of the necessary legislation for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of such trafficking;
	(3)  what role she expects the National Crime Agency's organised crime command to play in tackling wildlife crime following the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev.

Jeremy Browne: The UK supported E/CN.15/2013/L20/Rev, which was adopted on 26 April 2013.
	The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) referred to in E/CN.15/2013/L20/Rev were ratified by the UK in February 2006. The Government will consider how those respective conventions can be used as part of their ongoing approach to tackling the illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora.
	The UK has already implemented tough measures to prevent and tackle illicit trafficking in wild fauna and flora. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is currently one of the UK's wildlife crime priorities. The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES) provide a specific legal basis for prosecuting CITES offences, carrying a five year maximum sentence. CITES offences may also be prosecuted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which carries a seven year maximum sentence.
	Where wildlife crime is sufficiently serious, organised or complex, the National Crime Agency will ensure that partners across the law enforcement community benefit from its coordination, tasking and intelligence arrangements, as well as being able to access its specialist capabilities, as appropriate.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  with reference to the Third Report of the Environmental Audit Committee, Session 2012-13, on Wildlife Crime, HC 140, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of making wildlife crime offences recordable and notifiable offences;
	(2)  with reference to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN15/2013/C.20/Rev), if her Department will investigate the viability of making wildlife crime offences recordable and notifiable offences.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Secretary has committed to seeking reductions in individual crime classifications wherever possible and any expansion must deliver a clear and tangible benefit that outweighs the additional burdens they create. The Home Office is not convinced that implementing specific wildlife crime codes would deliver the benefits envisaged by the Environmental Audit Committee. The statistics that would result would only reflect crimes recorded and dealt with by the police and not by the various other agencies who have investigatory and prosecuting powers and who are frequently the lead agency in these matters. It is for the police to liaise with those other agencies to gather the intelligence they require to understand and combat wildlife crime.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) agencies, (b) Government Departments and (c) groups her Department works with on tackling wildlife crime in the UK.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office works with a number of partners to tackle wildlife crime, including the national police leads for wildlife crime in England, Wales and Scotland, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency.
	The Home Office is also part of the UK Tasking and Co-ordinating Group, which sets the UK’s wildlife crime priorities, and includes additional partners such as the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories, and a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) which brings together a wide range of non-government organisations with an interest in wildlife law enforcement, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the prevalence and threat of wildlife crime in the UK; and what steps her Department is taking to tackle it.

Jeremy Browne: Every six months, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) produces a tactical assessment of wildlife crime in the UK. The tactical assessment is based upon scientific advice and intelligence from individual members of the UK Tasking and Co-ordinating Group (UK TCG) and police forces, and uses a risk-based approach to identify current, emerging and future threats. The tactical assessment is considered jointly by the Home Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and other members of the UK TCG, and ultimately informs the priorities and activities of the UK TCG.

Databases: Telecommunications

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the money spent on the Communications Capabilities Development Programme has been paid to service providers under the cost recovery system to date.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 14 May 2013
	The Communications Capabilities Development Programme funds communications service providers for the delivery of Communications Data (CD) and Lawful Intercept (LI) capabilities. The vast majority of the programme expenditure to date has been on CD and LI delivery under existing legislation, including payments to communications services providers, law enforcement training and programme costs.

Entry Clearances: India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision for biometric facilities there is in India for Indian nationals applying for a visa to visit the UK.

Mark Harper: There are 12 visa application centres in India where applicants can make their visa application—including enrolling their biometric information. They are located in the following cities: South Mumbai, North Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar and Kolkata. These are managed by our commercial partner, VFS Global.

Entry Clearances: India

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with UK Visas and Immigration on the provision of service for the introduction of the same-day business visa service for Indian nationals.

Mark Harper: holding answer 16 May 2013
	I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 341W.

Entry Clearances: Peru

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Peru visited the UK in each of the last three years; how many visa applications from that country were refused; and whether she has given consideration to ending the existing visa requirement between the UK and Peru.

Mark Harper: There were 4,560, 4,880, and 5,420 admissions (numbers of journeys) of Peruvian national visitors respectively in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (the latest available data).
	The latest available published statistics for applications for visas to the UK, their issue and refusal for Peruvian nationals (including visitors) for 2010 to 2012 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Entry clearance visas applied for, issued and refused to Peruvian Nationals, 2010-12 
			    Of which: 
			  Applications Resolved Issued Refused Withdrawn or Lapsed 
			 2010 total 5,488 5,463 4,887 550 26 
			 Of which:      
			 Visitors n/a n/a 4,028 n/a n/a 
			       
			 2011 total 5,488 5,527 5,002 479 46 
			 Of which:      
			 Visitors n/a n/a 4,211 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 total 5,753 5,755 5,422 296 37 
			 Of which:      
			 Visitors n/a n/a 4,677 n/a n/a 
			 n/a = Not available. Note: Figures include dependants. Source: Immigration Statistics, October to December 2012, Tables be.02.q and be.06.q.o 
		
	
	The Home Office keeps visa regimes under regular review. There are no current plans to change the visa requirement for Peruvian nationals.
	The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in the release Immigration Statistics October to December 2012, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2012

Entry Clearances: Sports Competitors

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions her Department has had with sporting bodies regarding the use of Tier 5 visas.

Mark Harper: Officials met the British Horseracing Authority on 2 May 2013 to discuss its endorsement criteria for Tier 5 overseas sports persons working in the horse racing sector. That was the most recent meeting, beyond day to day contact with the various sports governing bodies on routine matters.

G4S

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further discussions she has had with G4S on its suitability as a Government contractor.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department regularly reviews all contracts with G4S on a quarterly basis at Executive Oversight Board meetings which are attended by senior executives from G4S and senior officials from the Home Department.
	It also contributes regular updates on G4S to the Cabinet Office Supplier Relationship programme Crown representative.

Government Procurement Card

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the mean average spend using a Government procurement card was per senior civil servant in (a) her Department, (b) the UK Border Agency and (c) the UK Border Force in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012.

Mark Harper: The information requested on average Government procurement card spend per senior civil servant, for the Home Department, UK Border Agency and UK Border Force, can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 GPC spend per senior civil servant 
			 £ 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 HO 21 11 27 
			 UKBA 25 0 0 
			 UKBF n/a n/a 0

Illegal Immigrants

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrested in each of the last five years were found to be living in the UK illegally.

Mark Harper: holding answer 14 May 2013
	In terms of arrests made by the police, we do not hold this data; each force would need to be approached separately were we to want accurate figures from a police perspective. We work closely with the police to combat illegal immigration; for example, in London we have established Operation Nexus targeting immigration offenders in London.
	The Home Office makes arrests in the course of immigration enforcement visits where an individual is suspected of committing an immigration related offence.
	Data on the reason for arrests are only held at the level of co-ordinated paper case files or within the notes section of the Home Office's National Operations Database (NOD).
	Such data are not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean this question could be answered only through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.
	However, we can confirm that the Home Office arrested 42,340 for immigration related offences between April 2008 and March 2013. This includes arrests made during the course of immigration visits, and those people arrested by police and subsequently transferred to the Home Office.
	
		
			 Financial year Arrests for immigration related offences 
			 April 2008 to March 2009 9,557 
			 April 2009 to March 2010 7,429 
			 April 2010 to March 2011 7,731 
			 April 2011 to March 2012 7,879 
			 March 2012 to April 2013 9,744 
		
	
	All figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the process is for obtaining a slot at the Public Enquiry Office at Lunar House for indefinite leave to remain applications.

Mark Harper: A customer can book an appointment for an indefinite leave to remain appointment at the Public Enquiry Office at Lunar House by using our “Apply online” booking system or (in exceptional circumstances) by phone. To book an appointment online a customer must create an account with our “Apply online” booking system by visiting our website:
	https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/secure/secure.portal
	Once the user account is activated a customer can then select the category under which they wish to apply and select an available appointment slot. Once their appointment has been booked the customer will receive a confirmation text message or email that details the time and date of their appointment.
	A representative who is registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) can also make an appointment on behalf of their customers by emailing
	PEOCroydonRepsBio@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
	between 09:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Once an appointment has been booked the representative will receive a confirmation email detailing the time and date of their appointment.

Immigration: Children

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children from each country of origin arrived in the UK unescorted in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and how many such children have subsequently been returned to their country of origin.

Mark Harper: We do not collect data on all unescorted children arriving in the UK. We do know the number of non-British citizen children who were subject to further examination at the border, however, determining how many were unescorted and were subsequently returned to their country of origin, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Married People

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the damages ordered by the European Court of Human Rights to be paid to Mr Ilyas Elmi Hode and Ms Hawa Aden Adbi in its judgement of 6 November 2012 were paid.

Mark Harper: Following the European Court of Human Rights judgment of 6 November 2012, which became final on 6 February 2013, payment was made on 16 April 2013.

Immigration: Married People

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 10W, on immigration: married people and in paragraph 18(b), Appendix FM-SE (Family members-specified evidence to the UK Border Agency's Immigration Rules), under what circumstances commission-based earnings will be taken into account to meet the financial requirement.

Mark Harper: Under paragraph 18(b) of Appendix FM-SE to the Immigration Rules commission-based earnings from employment in the six or 12 months prior to the date of application can be counted as income under the minimum income threshold to be met in a spouse visa application, where the requirements of that appendix in relation to that employment are met.

Manchester Airport: Immigration Controls

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 26 March 2013, Official Report, column 1021W, on Manchester Airport: immigration controls, for what reasons no queuing data was collected at Terminal 3 in (a) November and (b) December 2012.

Mark Harper: The Department's data assurance programme identified weaknesses in the methodology used at Manchester Airport Terminal 3, which meant that the data collected during November-December 2012, was not deemed sufficiently robust. These weaknesses were remedied during November-December 2012 and robust reporting is now in place.

Overseas Students

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to removing international students from the migration statistics.

Mark Harper: Students will continue to count in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) net migration figures because students who stay for more than 12 months are long-term migrants, according to the UN definition. The ONS has recently changed its methodology so that in future it will be possible to identify students in emigration as well as immigration flows. This will begin to provide a more accurate measure of the contribution of students to overall net migration from August 2013.

Police and Crime Commissioners

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a meeting was held between Ministers of her Department and police and crime commissioners in the week commencing 22 April 2013.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 May 2013
	Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and others as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Police: Recruitment

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police and community support officers have become police officers in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The Home Office retains information only on the number of police community support officers (headcount) in England and Wales that have left their police force to become a joined regular, by force transfers and voluntary resignations. These figures are provided within the table for the last five years. Recruitment to the police is managed locally, and information is retained on local systems.

Private Finance Initiative

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which private finance initiative projects relating to her Department have been refinanced in each year since May 2010; what the value is of each such project; what the refinancing gain has been in each such case; and how much any such gain the relevant Government body received through a (a) lump sum and (b) reduction in the unitary charge.

James Brokenshire: The Home Department has not refinanced any private finance initiative projects since May 2010.

Repatriation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals killed in the UK were repatriated in each of the last five years; and at what cost to the public purse in each such year.

Mark Harper: The Home Department does not hold this information.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last met (a) the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (b) any other Scottish Government Minister; and what was discussed at any such meeting.

James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website.

Staff

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials of her Department are working on the proposed EU police and criminal justice opt-out.

James Brokenshire: The Department currently has a dedicated project team of four full-time officials working on the proposed EU police and criminal justice opt-out. Another official spends 50% of their time working on this matter. However, the complexity of the decision to be made means that the team is supported by a wide range of policy, finance, and legal experts within the Department, the numbers of which cannot be quantified.

Telecommunications

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2013, Official Report, column 119W, on telecommunications, which local authorities provided further information; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Local Government Association, the National Anti-Fraud Network, the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers and the London Borough Fraud Investigators' Group submitted the principal responses outlining the continuing requirement for local authorities to have access to communications data.

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

James Brokenshire: To provide this response would incur disproportionate cost to the Department.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

James Brokenshire: The total cost to the Home Department and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) of travel subsistence expenses claims in each of the last five years was:
	
		
			  Total (£) 
			 2008-09 46,069,190 
			 2009-10 79,523,017 
			 2010-11 62,321,404 
			 2011-12 64,092,921 
			 2012-13 68,970,691 
		
	
	The figure for 2008-09 does not include NDPB expenditure as the reporting mechanism used does not allow detailed travel subsistence expenses to be extracted.
	Information relating to the number of claims and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest claims cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Written Questions

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holding answers her Department provided to written parliamentary questions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) the first quarter of 2013; and what estimate she has made of the cost of providing such answers.

Mark Harper: The Home Department provided the following holding answers respectively:
	(a) 672
	(b) 600
	(c) 603
	(d) 170
	The Home Department does not provide estimates of PQ costs and does not plan to do so.
	Parliamentary questions on Government and Equalities are included in the figures up until 4 September 2012 when the Government Equalities Office (GEO) moved to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	This is management information, it is provisional and subject to change.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of using private credit reference agencies in helping to improve electoral registration rates.

Chloe Smith: As part of our work on electoral registration data matching pilot schemes over the last two years, we considered the possibility of a pilot that would use credit reference agency data, but we were unable to do so within current legislation. We continue, however, to work with data holding organisations to explore which datasets can best be used to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Birds

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of changes in the number of ground-nesting birds.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not undertaken a specific assessment of changes in the number of ground-nesting birds. There are many types of bird that nest on the ground; these include wildfowl and waders, gamebirds, many seabirds and some song-birds associated with open habitats, such as skylarks and meadow pipits. These species vary in their habitat requirements, their ecology and the threats to which they are exposed.
	The UK Government publish annual statistics on trends in wild bird populations for the UK and England. Combined trends are published for farmland, woodland, wetland and seabirds. Ground nesting species are included in the wetland bird trend and, to a lesser extent, in the seabird and farmland bird trends. These statistics are based on data from a range of sources, including the Breeding Bird Survey, which is undertaken by the British Trust for Ornithology with additional funding from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. These organisations also publish trends for individual species.

Coastal Erosion

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Coastal Change Pathfinders in helping communities at risk of coastal erosion; and what plans he has to provide further help to such communities.

Richard Benyon: A high level review of the Coastal Change Pathfinders Project was published in March 2012 together with an evaluation of the five biggest projects, many of which are currently ongoing. One of the key proposals of Pathfinders was 'rollback' or 'rolling back properties at risk'. Various proposals within the pathfinders moved properties or people away from the coast; this is known as 'rollback'. We will be seeking further evidence on the rolling back properties at risk and until this is available, final decisions on the Pathfinders will not be taken.

Environment Protection: Seas and Oceans

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has taken steps under section 56 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to publish the Direction issued under section 55 of that Act, and to draw this to the attention of those persons likely to be interested or affected by it.

Richard Benyon: The UK Marine Policy Statement was published on 18 March 2011. It described the principal marine planning functions for the English inshore and offshore areas that had been delegated to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). I will ensure that the section 55 Direction itself is published, including on the MMO website, as soon as possible.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 11 December 2012, Official Report, columns 257-8W, on flood control, what the planned spending on flood and coastal erosion risk management was in each year since 1996; and in each case what the actual spending was as a proportion of the planned spending.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA does not hold historical records of the difference between planned spending and actual spending going back to 1996. I can confirm that in 2011-12, DEFRA was able to provide an additional £22.3 million to the Environment Agency due to internal reprioritisation of budgets.
	The Environment Agency is able to make full use of any funding made available by DEFRA through efficient project management of its flood and coastal erosion risk management programme.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department obtains from (a) the private sector and (b) other sectors for the purposes of flood defence.

Richard Benyon: The following table provides details of contributions towards flood defence in England between 2012-13 and 2013-14. For the financial year 2012-13 the actual spend has been provided. For 2013-14 the current best estimate has been provided based on allocations made in February.
	At present, contributions are classified into three categories: local levy contributions, which are provided by Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, public sector (contributions provided via local authorities) and private sector (contributions provided by private sector organisations.
	DEFRA does not include local levy funding when reporting totals of partnership funding contributions because this funding stream was in place prior to the introduction of the new partnership funding policy. We are on track to bring forward a total of £148 million of contributions over the period from April 2011 to March 2015. This is on top of the £2.3 billion the Government will be spending over the same period.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Public Private Local levy 
			 2012-13 8 3 31 
			 2013-14 42 16 31

Flood Control

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure that there is a balance between capital and revenue spend on flood defence measures so that any asset created has maintenance funding to ensure that it remains viable for the lifetime of the asset.

Richard Benyon: Investment in flood risk management requires a balance between maintenance of the asset base and the targeted capital investment to improve or replace assets. Assessment of the capital investment in new assets is based on the whole life cost of the asset including maintenance.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which coastal towns have benefited from flood defences under the Coastal Change Pathfinders Scheme; and how much has been spent on coastal defences in each such community since the termination of that scheme.

Richard Benyon: The purpose of the pathfinder scheme was to explore new approaches to planning for and managing adaptation to coastal change, rather than defence. The funding supported areas within the selected authorities where flood defences were not sustainable or affordable. The 15 local authority areas chosen as pathfinders, and the amounts spent on coastal defences under the separate Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant in Aid funding for these authorities since the end of the scheme, are as follows:
	
		
			 Local Authority Amount spent (£) 
			 Chichester District Council 450,000 
			 Dorset County Council 0 
			 Sefton Metropolitan Council 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire Council 1,200,000 
		
	
	
		
			 East Sussex County Council 294,997 
			 Great Yarmouth Borough Council (1)26,059,700 
			 Somerset County Council 0 
			 Hampshire County Council 254,000 
			 South Hams District Council 0 
			 Hastings Borough Council 115,625 
			 Lincolnshire County Council (2)14,111,100 
			 Tendring District Council (3)2,817,800 
			 North Norfolk District Council (4)410,500 
			 Scarborough Borough Council 1,000,000 
			 Waveney District Council 101.00 
			 (1) With £15,760,200 expected in 2013-14. (2) With £7,720,000 expected in 2013-14. (3) With £525,000 expected in 2013-14. (4) With £3,100,000 expected in 2013-14.

Floods: Insurance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress he has made towards replacing the Statement of Principles for insurance against flooding.

Richard Benyon: The Government has made significant progress in discussions with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on how its flood re-proposal could be made to work. This is a complex issue and no deal has been reached but we aim to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.
	ABI members have voluntarily agreed to continue to abide by the statement of principles for a further month, to 31 July, to allow more time to reach agreement. If the ABI's proposal cannot be made to work, other options are also available. The Water Bill is the obvious vehicle to take any powers needed.

Hedgehogs

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of changes in the hedgehog population in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: The decline in the hedgehog population is well documented. The report ‘The State of Britain's Hedgehogs’, which was published in 2011 by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and the People's Trust for Endangered Species, states that there were an estimated 30 million hedgehogs in the 1950s but that this estimate had declined to approximately 1.5 million by 1995. Both organisations have conducted various other hedgehog surveys.
	Since the 1990s, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and other organisations have provided evidence of continued decline in hedgehog numbers and that the population may have decreased by approximately 25% over the last 10 years.
	Under the work to develop the implementation plan for Biodiversity 2020 (the Government's strategy for England's wildlife and ecosystem services), Natural England has commissioned work to review all species listed on Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 to identify priorities for action and to determine what those actions should be. The hedgehog is being considered within this context by the Mammal Taxon Group which comprises specialist organisations, led by Natural England.

Inflation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index measure of inflation, (b) the consumer price index measure of inflation and (c) any alternative measure of inflation.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA uses the consumer price index (CPI) and retail price index (RPI) for indexing rates in contracts and they are widely used for removing the effects of price changes in statistical time series and impact assessments.
	The precise index series used will be reviewed, for example when new contracts are negotiated.

Light Bulbs: Waste Disposal

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of public awareness of appropriate disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has made no assessment of public awareness of the appropriate disposal of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
	Low-energy light bulbs contain a small dose of mercury and should be disposed of responsibly. Recent legislation, which implements two EC directives on electrical and electronic equipment, limits the amount of mercury which such bulbs may contain and sets up a framework for disposing of them in an environmentally safe manner.
	The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 enable local authorities to work together with retailers of electrical and electronic equipment in their local areas to let householders know where they can deposit old equipment (including low-energy light bulbs) for treatment and recycling.
	These regulations require all distributors (retailers, mail-order companies and internet sellers) of low-energy light bulbs, referred to in the legislation as gas discharge lamps, to provide information to consumers and other users. This includes information on the requirement not to dispose of such bulbs as unsorted municipal waste, and on the return and collection systems available to them. Some retailers discharge this function by providing in-store take back of waste compact fluorescent light bulbs.
	The 2006 WEEE Regulations also place a responsibility on producers to mark low-energy light bulbs with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol, and to finance their collection, treatment, recovery and recycling when deposited at designated collection facilities or returned to designated distributors by householders.
	As waste is a devolved matter, this response relates only to England.

Light Bulbs: Waste Disposal

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been provided to local authorities regarding the safe disposal of compact fluorescent lightbulbs.

Richard Benyon: Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), the most common type of energy efficient bulbs, are covered by the UK waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations. All local authorities in England work with producer compliance schemes to provide designated collection facilities for WEEE. Information about which sites take back CFLs and other types of WEEE is available on the recycle-more website at:
	www.recycle-more.co.uk
	The collection network established under the WEEE regulations allows the householder to return CFLs and other electrical equipment free of charge to designated collection facilities (generally local authority civic amenity sites) or retailers. Separate arrangements exist for business end-users.
	Producer compliance schemes, acting on behalf of those that originally placed the product on the market, must finance the collection of bulbs from these facilities and ensure that they are treated and recycled to the treatment standards laid down in the regulations and guidance documents. We would expect producer compliance schemes, retailers and local authorities to work together to ensure the safe collection and recovery of CLFs. This would include compliance with the duty of care for waste, which requires waste producers to use a registered waste carrier for the transport of waste and to ensure that waste is only transferred to a permitted or exempt waste management facility. DEFRA has issued statutory guidance on the duty of care for waste and this is available on the Environment Agency website.
	DEFRA has not issued specific guidance to local authorities about the recycling of CFLs. However, such lamps are classified as hazardous waste and DEFRA has issued guidance relating to the management of hazardous waste, including a guide on the rules relating to mixing such waste. This includes advice about local authority collections and the need to keep this type of waste separate, to provide clearly labelled receptacles so that members of the public can put the waste in the right place, and to separate out items placed in the wrong receptacles unless to do so would pose a health and safety risk to civic amenity site staff.
	As waste policy is a devolved matter, this response relates only to England.

Marine Management Organisation

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he issued a Direction to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under section 55 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, empowering the MMO to carry out marine planning functions; and when the MMO consented to that under section 55.

Richard Benyon: A Direction to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under section 55 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 was jointly agreed by DEFRA and the MMO on 18 March 2010.

Natural England: Staff

Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed by Natural England; and how many such staff are designated as managers.

Richard Benyon: On 30 April 2013, Natural England had 2,393 staff.
	Of these, 216 had responsibility for managing the performance of staff and resources to deliver Government priorities. Managers have people management and front-line delivery responsibilities.

Critical Resources

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contribution his Department is making towards the launch of a new critical resources contribution dashboard.

Richard Benyon: The development of a pilot critical resources dashboard is being led by the Environment Sustainability Knowledge Transfer Network (ESKTN). As outlined in the March 2012 Resource Security Action Plan, DEFRA is working closely with the ESKTN to help steer the development of the dashboard and has contributed funding to support development of the site.

Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department issues on the actions that would result in the suspension or removal of a bonus payment to an official in his Department; what the process is for clawing back such bonuses; and on how many occasions this has happened in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has not issued guidance on the actions that would result in the suspension or removal of non-consolidated performance payments to an official or what the process is for clawing back such payments. Any such instances would be considered on an individual basis.
	No payments have been suspended, removed or clawed back in each of the last five years.

Publications

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on subscriptions to academic journals published by (a) Reed-Elsevier, (b) Wiley-Blackwell, (c) Springer and (d) any other academic publisher in each of the last five years.

Richard Benyon: This information is not held centrally. However, most academic journals are ordered through the core DEFRA library service.
	The spend by this service on subscriptions to academic journals published by (a)Reed-Elsevier, (b) Wiley-Blackwell, (c) Springer and (d) any other academic publisher in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Reed-Elsevier 4,644.42 8,375.42 5,380.77 4,596.34 0 
			 Wiley-Blackwell 502.98 771.26 1,164.57 557.97 56.00 
			 Springer 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 22,626.21 28,769.38 11,121.06 11,105.99 11,611.28 
			 Total 27,773.61 37,916.06 17,666.40 16,260.30 11,667.28

Risk Assessment

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of the precautionary principle is used by his Department.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA uses the definition in the 1992 United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:
	“In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”

WALES

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Stephen Crabb: In the last five years no claims for evening dress allowance have been made by officials in the Wales Office.

Fire Extinguishers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received from Members of the Welsh Assembly in support of the introduction of fire sprinklers in new homes;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing sprinkler systems into homes in Wales.

David Jones: I have received representation from Ann Jones AM, expressing support for the Domestic Fire Safety measure. Welsh specific building regulations, including the requirement for all new homes in Wales to be fitted with sprinklers, was also a matter I discussed with the Welsh Government Finance Minister at our bilateral on 29 April 2013.
	Wales's largest independent house builder Redrow has estimated that Welsh specific building regulations, including the requirement for all new homes to be fitted with a sprinkler, is estimated to impose an additional £13,000 to the unit building cost in Wales. I have written to the Welsh Government urging them to give further consideration to the impacts of those regulations on the construction industry in Wales.

ICT

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office had no reported losses of computers, BlackBerrys or other pieces of IT equipment in financial years 2010-11 to 2012-13. One mobile phone was reported lost in 2011-12; no mobile phones were reported lost in the other two years.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department.

David Jones: Due to the nature of its role, the Wales Office rarely introduces, amends or revokes regulations. Most of the Statutory Instruments that the Department introduces relate to elections to the National Assembly for Wales. These are either amended or revoked before each Assembly election, following discussion with the Welsh Government, Electoral Commission, political parties and electoral administrators in Wales.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended;
	(2)  if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by his Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

David Jones: The Wales Office has not introduced, amended or revoked any regulations since May 2010.

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department enrolled in publicly-funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Stephen Crabb: The following table sets out how many officials in the Wales Office enrolled in publicly-funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year:
	
		
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13(1) 
			 Number of officials enrolled in publically funded training courses 40 20 11 19 2 
			       
			 Total cost of training courses (£) 16,086.93 19,857.75 12,347.81 10,530.98 1,593.00 
			       
			 10 highest paid training course fees (£) 6,495.00 10,500.00 2,240.00 2,100.00 796.50 
			  860.00 908.50 1,315.00 2,040.00 — 
			  500.00 868.00 675.00 740.00 — 
			  495.00 805.00 650.00 635.00 — 
			  494.00 665.00 601.31 590.00 — 
			  390.00 552.00 576.00 576.00 — 
			  385.00 546.25 450.00 499.99 — 
			  325.00 425.00 446.50 495.00 — 
			  279.00 399.00 395.00 360.00 — 
			  250.00 395.00 360.00 250.00 — 
			 (1) In 2012-13, one course attended by two officials.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Stephen Crabb: The following table sets out Wales Office expenditure on travel and subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each year:
	
		
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Total travel and subsistence claimed (£) 44,813.70 34,087.44 13,335.58 14,469.85 18,124.20 
			       
			 Total number of Wales Office staff to claim 54 52 33 38 37 
			       
			 Top 20 subsistence claims (£) 1,942.13 476.94 190.47 132.00 131.32 
			  561.23 476.70 142.40 100.00 130.59 
			  439.50 426.54 78.99 85.00 120.00 
			  427.35 397.85 72.99 84.00 117.72 
			  387.13 332.92 66.42 43.15 95.00 
			  369.40 332.00 25.00 37.00 85.00 
			  346.74 314.57 23.70 36.50 75.00 
			  332.96 286.45 21.03 34.50 50.00 
			  330.05 283.34 21.00 29.00 49.68 
			  312.51 258.82 20.00 22.30 43.60 
			  311.73 223.95 19.95 21.00 36.00 
			  291.81 192.72 19.00 20.85 35.47 
			  284.28 179.20 18.75 20.20 34.50 
			  270.90 150.10 18.64 20.00 32.00 
			  266.80 146.58 18.25 19.52 30.25 
			  264.10 122.05 18.14 19.00 25.30 
			  261.90 118.26 18.00 18.99 25.00 
			  261.55 90.48 17.65 18.93 24.50 
			  259.69 83.00 17.38 18.33 22.44 
			  256.85 16.70 17.30 18.00 21.00

UK Trade and Investment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to encourage UK Trade and Investment to co-ordinate its trade promotion activities with the Welsh Government.

David Jones: The UK Government has extended the secondments of two UKTI officials into the Welsh Government to ensure that trade promotion activities are coordinated in Wales. I am delighted that preliminary figures from UKTI show that foreign investment created 2,605 new jobs in Wales and helped to safeguard a further 4,857 in 2012-13. The total number of jobs secured through foreign investment increased by 61.5% on the previous year.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Michael Penning: Following the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	Since April 2010, no officials in my department have made a claim for evening dress; there is no provision or allowance for this.
	My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters—contact details are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 ALB Status Contact details 
			 Parades Commission for Northern Ireland Executive NDPB Info@paradescommission.org 
			 Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Executive NDPB information@nihrc.org 
			 Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland Advisory NDPB bcni@belfast.org.uk

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the members of the (a) Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland, (b) Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and (c) Parades Commission for Northern Ireland were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Michael Penning: The information requested as at 1 January 2013 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Public body Name Start date of current term End date of current term Remuneration (£) 
			 Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland Mr Justice McCloskey 2 September 2012 1 September 2015 0 
			  Richard McKenzie 1 November 2012 31 October 2013 505.50 per day 
			  William Smith 16 May 2009 15 May 2015 505.50 per day 
			      
			 Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Michael O'Flaherty 19 September 2011 18 September 2016 77.000 per annum 
			  Christine Collins I September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  John Corey 1 September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  Milton Kerr 1 September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  Grainia Long I September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  Alan McBride 1 September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  Marion Reynolds 1 September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			  Paul Yam 1 September 2011 31 August 2014 10,000 per annum 
			      
			 Parades Commission for Northern Ireland Peter Osborne 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 500 per day 
			  Douglas Bain 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 250 per day 
			  Delia Close 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 250 per day 
			  Brian Kennaway 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 250 per day 
			  Catriona King 1 January 2011 31 January 2013 250 per day 
			  Frances Nolan 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 250 per day 
			  Robin Percival 1 January 2011 31 December 2013 250 per day 
		
	
	Statistically information on the public bodies sponsored by my Department, including ethnicity, is published annually by the Cabinet Office and is available at:
	http://resources.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/PB12.pdf

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what processes her Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by her Department;
	(2)  what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by her Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended;
	(3)  if she will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by her Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

Michael Penning: The Northern Ireland Office has responsibilities chiefly on constitutional, electoral and national security matters. Due to the nature of its role, my Department rarely introduces, amends or revokes regulations.
	Of the small number of regulations concerned, many relate to making minor amendments to existing elections and security legislation. Since May 2010, my Department has introduced/revoked the following regulations:
	The Electoral Law (Polling Station Scheme) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1532);
	The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (No SR number);
	Identification and Traceability of Explosives (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2012 (SR 2012/123);
	Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (SR 2012/429);
	Identification and Traceability of Explosives (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2013 {SR 2013/48) (note: these regulations revoked the 2012 regulations cited above and earlier 2010 regulations).

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Michael Penning: Following the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	For the three years since devolution the figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of staff attending Total cost (£) 
			 2010-11 (1)— 20,014 
			 2011-12 41 14,305 
			 2012-13 85 19,911 
			 (1) Not held. 
		
	
	The 10 highest training course fees for each year were:
	2010-11
	1. £16,584—Departmental contribution to National School for Government Core Learning programme
	2. £1,025—Open University degree course
	3. £1,000—Introduction to Information Assurance
	4. £440—Custodian course
	5. £400—Management coaching and mentoring course.
	It is not possible to provide other individual course costs for 2010-11 as these were covered by our contribution to the Core Learning Programme which meant that courses provided by NSG were free.
	2011-12
	1. £1,989—Records and Information Management
	2. £1,775—Information Assurance
	3. £1,760—Prince2 Practitioners
	4. £1,350—Prince2 Foundation
	5. £1,350—Prince2 Practitioner
	6. £1,210—Parliamentary Government and the Civil Service
	7. £1,020—Personal Effectiveness
	8. £894—Financial Training
	9. £740—Finance for Non-Finance Managers
	10. £480—Public Accountability and Governance for the Senior Civil Service.
	2012-13
	1. £3,858—Leading with Purpose
	2. £3,858—Leading with Purpose
	3. £1,518—Centre for Applied Learning, courses attended November 2012
	4. £1,086—Centre for Applied Learning, courses attended December 2012
	5. £1,074—Prince2 Training Course
	6. £416—Bill Team Training
	7. £395—Centre for Applied Learning, courses attended June 2012
	8. £256—Developing your Leadership Style
	9. £252—Achieving More with Less
	10. £236—Briefings and Submissions.
	My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters. Contact details are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 ALB Status Contact details 
			 Parades Commission for Northern Ireland Executive NDPB Info@paradescommission.org 
			 Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Executive NDPB information@nihrc.org 
			 Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland Advisory NDPB bcni@belfast.org.uk

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Michael Penning: Following the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The information requested by my hon. Friend for the period since the devolution of policing and justice functions is not held in a form which would allow us to respond without considerable manual review of electronic and physical files. This would incur disproportionate cost.
	My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters. Contact details are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 ALB Status Contact details 
			 Parades Commission for Northern Ireland Executive NDPB Info@paradescommission.org 
			 Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Executive NDPB information@nihrc.org 
			 Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland Advisory NDPB bcni@belfast.org.uk

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Scotland

David Hamilton: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the legislation his Office has sponsored which has devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament and powers within such legislation since 1998.

Andrew Lansley: None.

TREASURY

Banks

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to make the operation of banks more transparent; and if he has considered requiring banks to make public details of (a) the source from which they take savings and (b) the postcodes in which they lend.

Greg Clark: The Government are already taking forward a number of measures to make the operations of banks more transparent.
	Specifically, the Government are working with the industry—through the British Bankers Association (BBA) and other interested parties—to secure a commitment from the banks that they will publish postcode level lending data broken down by institution. If it is not possible to reach a satisfactory industry-led agreement the Government will introduce amendments to the Banking Reform Bill to ensure that the data is published.

Banks: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government about the creation of a public bank of Wales.

Danny Alexander: I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government about the creation of a public bank of Wales.

Bridges: River Thames

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment Infrastructure UK has made of the need for additional crossings of the Thames in East London;
	(2)  what economic analysis has been undertaken by his Department on the need to improve road transport infrastructure in East London to support economic growth.

Danny Alexander: The Department for Transport is the lead Department on road transport infrastructure and Transport for London has a specific role leading on improving local road infrastructure in London. No additional economic analysis or assessment has been undertaken by the Treasury or IUK on the need to improve road transport infrastructure in east London including the need for additional crossings.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Sajid Javid: Information relating to the evening dress allowance is not separately identified within our accounting system. This is a taxable benefit and is paid through staff salary; to attempt to extract this information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
	All staff must refer to the Department’s travel and subsistence policy when making a claim for evening dress allowance and must obtain pre-approval from a director for the expenditure.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Sajid Javid: HM Treasury does not employ any staff on zero-hour contracts.

Economic Situation

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether the UK National Reform Programme is a submission the basis of which falls within the scope of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993.

Greg Clark: The Government do not consider that the National Reform Programme falls within the scope of section 5 of the European Communities 1993 (Amendment) Act. The National Reform Programme does not include any material that has not previously been published.

Enterprise Investment Scheme

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of providing incentives through the Enterprise Investment Scheme for energy service companies to invest in projects delivering permanent and verifiable savings on electricity consumption.

David Gauke: The Enterprise investment scheme (EIS) currently covers a very wide range of industries. Energy service companies, are able to benefit from EIS provided that they are not benefiting from the Feed-in Tariff, conducting trading activities that involve leasing or letting assets on hire, or conducting trading activities that involve various forms of financing. These restrictions exist to ensure that EIS meets its aim to incentivise investment in risky, smaller companies that have difficulties accessing finance.
	The Government keeps all aspects of tax policy under review.

Financial Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what other avenues are available to address losses caused by the actions of financial services companies, where allegations are made in the public domain regarding financial irregularities by such companies and an individual is reluctant to submit a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.

Greg Clark: Individuals with complaints about financial service companies who are reluctant to submit a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to pursue compensation through the courts.
	Where there has been a breach of relevant requirements, the Financial Conduct Authority has powers to intervene in certain circumstances and may be able to require firms to take remedial action. For example, it has powers to impose industry or single firm redress schemes. However, it is not within its remit to resolve individual cases.

Financial Services: EU Law

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in hearing the UK's case regarding Regulation (EU) No 236/2012; when he expects judgment on that case to be given by the CJEU; and if he will place in the Library the written legal submissions made by the Government to the CJEU in that case.

Greg Clark: On 31 May 2012, the UK launched a legal challenge to the CJEU regarding article 28 of regulation (EU) No. 236/2012. The case is ongoing and, in accordance with its usual procedure, the court is not able to disclose when a judgment can be expected.
	As is the usual case, legal submissions made by the Government to the CJEU in the case regarding regulation (EU) No 236/2012 will not be placed in the Library of Official Documents.

Financial Services: EU Law

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in hearing the UK's case regarding the European Central Bank's proposed location policy for central counterparties dealing in euro-denominated financial products; when he expects judgment on that case to be given by the CJEU; and if he will place in the Library the written legal submissions made by the Government to the CJEU in that case.

Greg Clark: On 15 September 2011, the UK launched its legal challenge, regarding the location policy of the European Central Bank for central counterparties dealing in euro-denominated financial products. The case is ongoing at the General Court of the European Union and, in accordance with usual procedure, the court is not able to disclose when a judgment can be expected.
	As is the usual case, legal submissions made by the Government to the CJEU in the case regarding regulation (EU) No 236/2012 will not be placed in the Library of Official Documents.

Financial Services: Taxation

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his European counterpart on the financial transaction tax.

Greg Clark: The European Commission’s proposal for a financial transaction tax under the enhanced co-operation procedure continues to be frequently raised in discussions between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his European counterparts.

Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if HM Revenue and Customs use (a) Atos or (b) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.

David Gauke: HMRC do not use Atos for counter-fraud and related services although they are available to HMRC on the Government Procurement Service’s Data Access, Processing and Analytics (DAPA) framework. HMRC use other companies to provide counter-fraud activities and related services.

Green Investment Bank

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has paid into the Green Investment Bank to date.

Sajid Javid: The Government are committed to providing £3 billion funding for the Green Investment Bank.

Income Tax: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the membership of the three technical groups set up by HM Revenue and Customs to examine consequential issues arising as a result of the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax, referred to in the First Annual Report on the Implementation and Operation of Part 3 (Financial Provisions) of the Scotland Act 2012.

David Gauke: The following organisations were represented on the three technical groups set up by HM Revenue and Customs to examine consequential issues arising as a result of the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax:
	Association of British Insurers, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Association of Member-directed Pension Schemes, British Computer Society, Confederation of British Industry, Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, Charities Aid Foundation, Charity Finance Directors Group (now known as Charity Finance Group), Charity Tax Group, Chartered Institute of Taxation, Chartered Institute of Taxation (Scotland), Church of Scotland, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, Institute of Directors, Institute of Fundraising, Law Society, Law Society of Scotland, Low Income Tax Reform Group, National Association of Pension Funds, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, National Employment Savings Trusts, Scottish Charity Finance Directors Group, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Scottish Government, Scottish Widows, Small Charities Coalition, Society of Pensions Consultants, Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners, Standard Life, Stewardship.

Income Tax: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to First Annual Report on the Implementation and Operation of Part 3 (Financial Provisions) of the Scotland Act 2012, what costs have been incurred in respect of the project to implement the Scottish rate of income tax; and what proportion of such costs will be borne by the Scottish Government.

David Gauke: As set out in paragraph 12 of the Annual Report, HMRC invoiced the Scottish Government for £165,141; this is the total cost of the implementation project for the Scottish rate of income tax in 2012-13. The full amount was paid by the Scottish Government on 19 April.

Investment

Richard Graham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in foreign bond holdings has been held by the Government in each of the last five years; and how much in UK bonds has been purchased by foreign governments in each such year.

Sajid Javid: The Government's foreign bond holdings are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA). The exact composition of the reserves assets is market sensitive information; however, information about debt securities held in the EEA can be found in the EEA Annual Accounts. The Government held £32 billion in foreign currency debt securities in the year ended March 2012.
	Data produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that overseas investors have been net purchasers of gilts over each of the last five years, with net purchases totalling £203 billion between 2008 and 2012, of which around £27 billion can be attributed to purchases by foreign central banks.

Personal Savings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average proportion of individuals' after-tax incomes that were put towards savings in each decile of the working population was in each of the last 30 years.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking what the average proportion of individuals' after-tax incomes that were put towards savings in each decile of the working population was in each of the last 30 years (155764).
	ONS does not have the data required to answer your question. ONS's annual publication, ‘The Effects of Taxes & Benefits on Household Income’
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/household-income/the-effects-of-taxes-and-benefits-on-household-income/2010-11/index.html
	does contain information on after-tax income by decile for non-retired households, going back to 1977. This publication is based on the Living Costs and Food Survey (LCF), which is a sample survey covering approximately 5,000 households in the UK. However, although the LCF also collects information on household expenditure, it is not possible to produce from this a reliable estimate of the proportion of income put towards savings.
	ONS also publish within the Quarterly National Accounts, the households' savings ratio
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa2/quarterly-national-accounts/q4-2012/stb-quarterly-national-accounts-q4-2012.html
	This is calculated from total-UK aggregates and for many of these (e.g. household final consumption expenditure) a breakdown by income decile is not available.

Child Poverty

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Institute for Fiscal Studies' report on the projected increase in childhood poverty in the UK up to 2020.

Sajid Javid: The Institute for Fiscal Studies' projections are based on a narrow measure of child poverty. The focus on this measure has resulted in policies that use benefits and tax credits to change income at the margin; it does not capture the full impact of government spending on low to middle income households, including the value of education and health services which have a real positive impact on children's life chances.
	The Government have sought a wide range of views as part of a consultation on better measures of child poverty, which include income but also wider measures to tackle the root causes of poverty including worklessness, educational failure and family breakdown. The consultation has now closed and the Government will respond in the summer.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the members of the (a) Office for Budget Responsibility and (b) Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the design of coins, medals, seals and decorations were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Sajid Javid: The OBR is led by the three members of the Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC): Robert Chote (chair), Stephen Nickell CBE and Graham Parker CBE. Details of the terms of office and remuneration of the BRC, including original letters of appointment, are all published on the OBR's website. All OBR BRC members have declared their ethnicity as “white British”.
	As of 1 January 2013, the members of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee were: Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, Professor Sir David Cannadine, Mr John Maine RA, Mr Stephen Raw, The right hon. The Earl Peel GCVO DL, Mrs Jana Khayat, Mr Tim Knox, Mr Edmund de Waal, the Garter Principal King of Arms (currently Mr Thomas Woodcock CVO DL).
	All committee posts are unpaid and all members of the committee declared their ethnicity as white. All members of the committee are on five-year terms of office, with the exception of Mr Thomas Woodcock CVO DL, who was there in his role of the Garter Principal King of Arms.

Public Sector: Staff

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Note 7.3 of the Whole of Government Accounts: year ended 31 March 2011, if he will provide an update on the latest figures providing the average number of full-time equivalent persons employed in (a) the public sector and (b) central government and associated agencies; and if he will provide an updated estimate of annual consolidated staff costs.

Danny Alexander: The Whole of Government Accounts for year ended 31 March 2011 was published on 31 October 2012. The Treasury are working towards publishing the Whole of Government Accounts for year ended 31 March 2012 before summer recess 2013. This will include the latest figures for full-time equivalent persons employed in the public sector with a split to show central Government separately. It will also provide the latest actual consolidated staff costs.

Renewable Energy

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total cost to the (a) public purse and (b) consumer of supporting renewable energy at the target of 20% of total energy generation.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
	The target of 20% of total energy generation is an EU-wide target, and is not specific to the UK.
	The EU Commission published an impact assessment alongside the RED that assessed the potential costs of meeting this target.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many telephone enquiries were received by the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle in each month since January 2012; how many cases were resolved by the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle in each month since January 2012; what the standard response time for case resolution is; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Since January 2012, the Statutory Payments Dispute team in Newcastle has received an average of 140 incoming calls per day. This equates to an average of 2,800 calls each month over the year in question.
	In the same period the Statutory Payments Dispute team resolved the following number of cases:
	
		
			 Month Clearances 
			 January 2012 495 
			 February 2012 410 
			 March 2012 676 
			 April 2012 386 
			 May 2012 390 
			 June 2012 479 
			 July 2012 435 
			 August 2012 472 
			 September 2012 445 
		
	
	
		
			 October 2012 487 
			 November 2012 491 
			 December 2012 348 
			 January 2013 486 
			 February 2013 470 
			 March 2013 622 
		
	
	There is no link between the number of calls and the number of cases, as many of the calls are related to progress updates.
	The response time for each case depends on individual employers agreeing to pay the outstanding statutory payments to their employees.
	This can range from immediate clearance by phone following a discussion with the employer to over three months if an employer has ceased to trade. Employers who dispute can take an indefinite period of time to resolve, often being issued with a penalty for non-compliance. As the case progresses, the individual is updated on a regular basis.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed at the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle to (a) answer telephone enquiries in relation to the payment of statutory maternity pay and (b) process cases; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: There are currently 19 staff in the Statutory Payments Dispute processing team. All staff in the team respond to telephone calls and process casework for the various types of statutory payments.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed at the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle in each month since January 2012; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Staff employed since January 2012 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff 
			 January 2012 25.41 
			 February 2012 23.80 
			 March 2012 24.38 
			 April 2012 20.52 
			 May 2012 19.57 
			 June 2012 19.82 
			 July 2012 20.47 
			 August 2012 18.81 
			 September 2012 18.80 
			 October 2012 19.69 
			 November 2012 17.12 
			 December 2012 18.92 
			 January 2013 21.83 
			 February 2013 18.77 
			 March 2013 17.90 
		
	
	These totals include staff who answer telephone inquiries and process cases, as well as administrative support.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff employed at the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle were absent from work in each month since January 2012; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The attendance policy ensures that HM Revenue and Customs are able to deliver business priorities by allowing only 20% of staff to be absent on leave at any one time. There have been no significant absence trends in the year in question.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available an MP hotline to facilitate casework enquiries with the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HMRC National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office (NIC & EO) currently has no plans to introduce a dedicated hotline to enable MPs to contact the Statutory Payments Dispute Team. The team can be contacted on the number published on the internet.

Revenue and Customs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances staff at the Statutory Payment Dispute Team in Newcastle can prioritise cases for resolution; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: Given the nature of statutory payment dispute work and in recognition of the needs of this customer group, all statutory payments dispute cases are treated as high priority. The Statutory Payments Dispute Team operates a standard policy of dealing with all cases in date order, 'first in first out', to provide the fairest customer service to all.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

Sajid Javid: The Treasury does not hold information based on the geographical location of its suppliers. In order to obtain the information the Treasury would be required to undertake a manual review and assessment of large volumes of records; this would be at a disproportionate cost to the Department.
	Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish information for all contracts awarded (£10,000+ excluding VAT). The information for Treasury can be found on the ‘Contracts Finder’ portal:
	www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
	In addition, Departments are required to publish details of spend with suppliers that is in excess of £25,000 (excluding VAT) each month. The information for Treasury can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury/series/25000-spend

Tax Allowances: Video Games

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to defend the competitiveness of the UK video game industry in respect of the European Commission scrutiny of tax relief for video games investment in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The Government are committed to bringing in the video games tax relief at the earliest opportunity.
	The process for, and duration of, the Commission’s investigation are determined by the Commission itself.
	Nevertheless, the Government are working closely with industry to provide the Commission with the evidence it needs to conclude its investigation as quickly as possible.

Tax Evasion

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken since May 2010 to combat tax evasion by UK registered companies; what resources have been committed to each such initiative; and how many (a) HM Treasury and (b) HM Revenue and Customs' personnel respectively are currently employed on tackling tax evasion.

David Gauke: The Government have been robust in their response to tax evasion taking action to prevent detect and tackle such behaviour. We have underlined our commitment to tackling non-compliance in those areas by investing over £900 million in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the Spending Review 2010 period. That will allow HMRC to better tackle evasion, criminal attacks, unpaid tax debt and avoidance.
	On 3 December 2012, in Autumn Statement, the Government announced we will provide an additional £77 million in additional funding to expand HMRC's anti-avoidance and evasion work. This investment will focus on evasion and avoidance by wealthy individuals and multinationals. It will cover the current Spending Review period, which finishes at the end of March 2015.
	HMRC will therefore now aim to raise total additional revenues of £22 billion a year by the end of 2014-15. This is £9 billion more than it would have been without this Government's near £1 billion investment.
	HMRC are responsible for the operation of the tax system and lead the work on tackling evasion. HM Treasury (HMT), supported by HMRC, leads on strategic work and policy development. HMT and HMRC together develop policy across a range of HMT business areas and tackling evasion and avoidance is an integral part of policy development. Therefore the HMT and HMRC resource in this area can be disaggregated only at disproportionate cost.
	HMRC tackles a wide range of behaviour involving non-compliance with the tax system, including tax evasion, error, tax avoidance, fraud and criminal attack. HMRC works on a risk basis, and HMRC compliance officers and investigators may work on cases involving several behaviours and risks at any time.
	Within HMRC compliance and investigation work is primarily carried out by staff in the Enforcement and Compliance line of business. All staff in Enforcement and Compliance support the fight against evasion either directly or indirectly. The number of staff, as at 2012-13, currently employed (full-time equivalent) by Enforcement and Compliance is 26,601.

Taxation: Rolling Stock

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Exchequer has received from the train leasing companies (a) Eversholt Rail, (b) Angel Trains and (c) Porterbrook Rail Finance (i) in total and (ii) in capital gains tax in each year since 1994.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers do not have access to the details of companies' or individuals' tax affairs, as the tax system is administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC has a statutory duty of taxpayer confidentiality and so cannot disclose this information to either HM Treasury or to the wider public, other than in very limited circumstances.

Tonnage Tax

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue accrued to the Exchequer from shipping companies in the tonnage tax scheme in each year since 2000-01.

Sajid Javid: The following table shows estimated tax liabilities due to tonnage tax for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2010-11 (the latest year for which full data is currently available).
	
		
			 Tax year Tax liabilities (£ million) 
			 2000-01 1.4 
			 2001-02 2.1 
			 2002-03 2.6 
			 2003-04 3 
			 2004-05 3.6 
			 2005-06 3.7 
			 2006-07 4.4 
			 2007-08 4.3 
			 2008-09 4.5 
			 2009-10 4.6 
			 2010-11 4.7

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Sajid Javid: Information on total cost of publicly funded training courses for HM Treasury and its executive agencies is follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Financial year HM Treasury training costs Total costs(1) 
			 2008-09 2,282,714 2,695,428 
			 2009-10 2,369,560 2,924,727 
			 2010-11 2,274,560 2,399,562 
			 2011-12 808,608 1,017,710 
			 2012-13 656,790 772,795 
			 (1) Includes Debt Management Office (all years), Office of Government Commerce (2008-10), Asset Protection Agency (2010 to October 2012), UK Financial Investments Limited (2011-13), and Office and Budget Responsibility (2011-13). 
		
	
	No central records are held relating to how many officials enrolled in publicly-funded training courses, or the monetary value of the 10 highest training course fees, and information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. Groups have delegated training budgets that are used for the provision of external training and all training requests are subject to line manager approval. In addition, training across the civil service is now mostly delivered through Civil Service Learning, which oversees the purchase of training across Government ensuring best value and reducing costs through collaborative purchasing.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants: Business Interests

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department issues to Government Departments regarding the employment of outgoing civil servants by private employers with whom their former Department has a contractual relationship.

Francis Maude: The Business Appointment Rules which apply after leaving office, can be accessed at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/civil-service-management-code

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office does not have an evening dress allowance.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people in No. 10 Downing street are employed on zero hours contracts;
	(2)  how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) on 28 January 2013, Official Report, column 676W.

Death: Drugs

John Woodcock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths in the UK were attributed to legal highs in each of the last five years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in the UK were attributed to legal highs in each of the last five years. (155656)
	There is no official definition of the term 'legal high'. However the Office for National Statistics does monitor deaths from drug-related poisoning, allowing analysis of deaths by specific substances involved.
	In recent years a number of novel psychoactive substances have been controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. These include gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursor gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), piperazines (benzylpiperazine - BZP and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine–TFMPP), pipradrols such as desoxypipradrol, and cathinones such as mephedrone. Cathinone is one of the active ingredients in herbal Khat (Catha edulis), although Khat is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act. All of these substances have been mentioned in association with the term 'legal high', although it should be noted that once a substance is added to the list of substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, it is no longer 'legal'.
	The following table provides the number of drug-related deaths mentioning these substances for the UK, in each registration year from 2007 to 2011 (the latest year available). It is important to note that around 60% of these deaths mentioned more than one substance on the death certificate, and it is not possible to tell which was primarily responsible for the death. More information on how to interpret data on drug-related deaths can be found in the bulletins mentioned.
	The number of drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales between 1993 and 2011 are available on the ONS website:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning/2011/index.html
	The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland is available on the National Records of Scotland website:
	www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/drug-related/index.html
	The number of drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland is available on the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website:
	www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp30.htm
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths related to drug poisoning where GHB/GBL, BZP/TFMPP, a cathinone (including khat) or desoxypipradrol was mentioned on the death certificate, UK, deaths registered between 2007 and 2011(1,2,3,4) 
			 Registration year Deaths 
			 2007 9 
			 2008 25 
			 2009 33 
			 2010 35 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 41 
			 (1) Cause of death related to drug poisoning was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10) codes shown in Box 1. (2) Deaths were included where the underlying cause was drug-related, and where one or more of the following substances was mentioned on the death certificate: GHB/GBL, BZP/TFMPP, a cathinone (eg mephedrone), khat or desoxypipradrol. (3) Figures include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in years 2007 to 2011. Due to the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, it can take months for a drug-related death to be registered in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Registration delays do not exist in Scotland. Additional information on registration delays for drug-related deaths can be found in the annual statistical bulletin: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/deaths-related-to-drug-poisoning/index.html 
		
	
	
		
			 Box 1. ICD-10 codes used to define deaths related to drug poisoning 
			 Description ICD 10 Codes 
			 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) F11-F16, F18-F19 
			 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X40-X44 
			 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64 
			 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85 
			 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent Y10-Y14

Death: Young People

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the 10 most frequent causes of death amongst 15 to 30-year-olds were in each of the last 30 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the top ten causes of death amongst 15 to 30 year olds in each year were in each of the last 30 years.
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths for the top 10 causes of death amongst 15 to 30-year-olds in England and Wales for deaths registered between 2001 and 2011 (the latest year available). A copy of Table 1 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	Individual causes of death are coded by ONS using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The causes of death shown in the table are groups of codes designed for the tabulation of deaths according to 'main' causes. Equivalent information is not readily available for years before 2001, when an earlier version of the International Classification of Diseases was in use.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year, by sex, age group and underlying cause is published annually on the ONS website. This publication also includes data showing the leading causes of death for males and females of all ages:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/index.html
	A copy of the table will be stored in the Library of the House.

Government Digital Services

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to make gov.uk's other government digital services IPv6 addressable.

Nick Hurd: Services are not currently IPv6 addressable, but this is kept under review by the Government Digital Service (GDS).

Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of the residents of each constituency in England and Wales were classified by the 2011 census as working in (a) public administration and (b) the defence industry.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the residents of each constituency in England and Wales were classified by the 2011 census as working in (i) public administration and (ii) the defence industry in rank order.
	A file containing a specially commissioned table (CT0046—Industry 4 digits) from the 2011 Census which provides the information you have requested for Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales, will be stored in the Library of the House.

Employment: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the total loss to the economy as a result of underemployment in Scotland.

Chloe Smith: holding answer 13 May 2013
	This is not a matter for Cabinet Office Ministers.

Fundraising Standards Board

Alun Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how his Department scrutinises the Fundraising Standards Board; when a review was last conducted; and what the outcome was of this review.

Nick Hurd: Lord Hodgson assessed the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) as part of his review of the Charities Act 2006 and concluded in his report ‘Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities’ that it had broadly met 10 of the 12 success criteria set out when it was established in 2006. The FRSB and Cabinet Office are members of the Steering Committee established in response to Lord Hodgson's recommendations to drive forward further progress in strengthening self-regulation.

Intelligence Services: Finance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the budget of the Single Intelligence Account has been in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  if he will estimate the projected total budget of the Single Intelligence Account in each of the next five years.

David Cameron: Estimates are voted on by Parliament each year. The information is available in the Vote Office.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether claimants of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) not currently receiving benefit because they have received a sanction, but otherwise meeting the conditions for entitlement to JSA, are included in the JSA claimant count published in the monthly labour market statistics.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether claimants of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) not currently receiving benefit because they have received a sanction, but otherwise meeting the conditions for entitlement to JSA, are included in the JSA claimant count published in the monthly labour market statistics. (156340)
	The Claimant Count published in the Labour Market Statistics Bulletin is a count of the number of live benefit claims for unemployment related purposes, whether the claimant is in receipt of money or not. Consequently all cases where JSA claimants are not currently receiving benefit because they have received a sanction, but are otherwise meeting the conditions for entitlement to JSA, are included in the Claimant Count, provided the claimant continues to keep their claim live during the sanction period through the normal signing on process. If a claimant chooses to not keep their claim live during a sanction period, the claim is no longer a live claim and they would not be included.

Legal Costs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent in total on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent in total on external legal advice from QCs (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012.

Francis Maude: My Department engages the Treasury Solicitors for the majority of its legal work. As was the case under previous Administrations, the Cabinet Office may engage other legal firms, for example when specialist advice is required. External legal advice is not separated from other legal costs in the Cabinet Office's accounting system.

Military Medals Review

Aidan Burley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  when the next stage of Sir John Holmes' Military Medals Review will be completed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what timescale has been set for the completion of Sir John Holmes' Military Medals Review into the National Defence Medal.

Francis Maude: Sir John Holmes has been invited to undertake further work to implement the recommendations set out in his Military Medals Review, published on 17 July 2012. This includes a review of the case for some form of National Defence Medal, to recognise all military service. Work on this has begun, but—as Sir John noted in his report of July 2012—the National Defence Medal is an issue of broad national significance which would require a broad political and public consensus and consideration by the Government as a whole, in consultation with other political parties and concerned organisations. No fixed completion date has therefore been set.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who the members of the (a) Senior Salaries Review Body, (b) Security Vetting Appeals Panel, (c) House of Lords Appointments Commission, (d) Committee on Standards in Public Life, (e) Civil Service Commission, (f) Boundary Commission for Wales, (g) Boundary Commission for England, (h) Big Lottery Fund and (i) Advisory Committee on Business Appointments were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Francis Maude: The Commissioner for Public Appointments collates and publishes information on the members including information on declared ethnic minority backgrounds. The Commissioner's annual report is available here:
	http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk
	Copies are also available in the Library of the House.
	A list of the members of these bodies including their terms of office and remunerations (as at 1 January 2013) will be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the equality of access available for deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language in terms of communicating with (a) civil servants and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures his Department has in place to ensure that deaf people have the opportunity to communicate in British Sign Language with (a) civil servants and (b) the agencies and public bodies for which he is responsible.

Francis Maude: My Department and its agencies and public bodies deal primarily with other Government bodies rather than the general public, but where there is interaction with the public, we would always seek to make suitable arrangements—including sign language—when necessary.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential risk of losses to the public purse arising from applying the current accounting officer conventions in the period leading up to the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with officials in his Department on how the accounting officers’ conventions would apply to investment in Scotland in advance of the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The UK Government is not planning for independence as it believes that people in Scotland will vote to remain within the UK. As such, the Government has made no assessment of the risk of losses to the public purse, and has no plans to change accounting officers conventions.

Thromboembolism

Dominic Raab: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people died as a result of thromboembolism diseases in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Secretary of State for Health how many people died as a result of thromboembolism diseases in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011 and (d) 2012 [155945].
	Table 1 provides the number of deaths where one of the following conditions was the underlying cause of death:
	(a) Strokes specified as being due to thromboembolism
	(b) Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
	(c) Arterial thromboembolism
	Figures are for England and Wales, for deaths registered between 2009 and 2011 (the latest year available).
	Thromboembolic disease may occur as a complication of other conditions such as cancer. In such cases the other condition may be specified as the underlying cause of death and thromboembolism shown as a contributing factor. Table 2 provides the number of deaths where or one or more of these conditions were mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor.
	When interpreting the figures in Table 2, it is important to be aware that some deaths may have more than one of the requested conditions mentioned. Therefore, some deaths may be counted in more than one of the categories listed.
	
		
			 Table 1. Number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was thromboembolism, England and Wales, deaths registered between 2009 and 2011(1, 2, 3) 
			 Underlying cause 2009 2010 2011 
			 Arterial thromboembolism 137 133 123 
			 Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis 6,659 6,748 4,923 
		
	
	
		
			 Thromboembolic stroke 340 360 43 
			 (1 )Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised in this table, and their corresponding ICD codes, are shown in Box 1 on the definition page. Deaths were included where one of these causes was the underlying cause of death. (2) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in the years 2009-2011. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2. Number of deaths where thromboembolism was mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, deaths registered between 2009 and 2011(1, 2, 3, 4) 
			 Cause 2009 2010 2011 
			 Arterial thromboembolism 543 556 496 
			 Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis 12,740 13,194 12,692 
			 Thromboembolic stroke 521 540 91 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases. Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The specific causes of death categorised in this table, and their corresponding ICD codes, are shown in Box 1 on the definition page. Deaths were included where one of these causes was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate: (2) Please note that some deaths may have more than one of the conditions mentioned and so may be counted in more than one of the causes listed. Therefore you should not add up all rows to obtain the total number of deaths mentioning thromboembolism, as this may double count deaths. (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (4) Figures are based on deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in the years 2009-2011. Further information on registration delays for a range of causes can be found on the ONS website: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/user-guidance/health-and-life-events/impact-of-registration-delays-on-mortality-statistics/index.html 
		
	
	
		
			 Box 1: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes used to define thromboembolism 
			 Cause ICD10code(s) 
			 Thromboembolic strokes I63.1 and I63.4(1) 
			 Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis I80.1-I80.3, I80.9, I82.9 and I26 
			 Arterial thromboembolism I74 
			 (1 )The number of deaths coded to cerebral infarction due to embolism of cerebral arteries (I63.4) declined significantly in 2011 due to an ICD-10 coding change. The software used by the Office for National Statistics for cause of death coding was updated in January 2011 from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) v2001.2 to v2010. More information on the impact of this coding change is available on the ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health3/results-of-the-icd-10-v2010-bridge-coding-study--england-and-wales--2009/2009/index.html

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Francis Maude: My Department does not hold information centrally on the full cost of training.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Francis Maude: Information on expenditure on travel and subsistence is published in my Department's annual accounts, available in the House of Commons Library.

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people live in families in which no one has worked for (a) two generations and (b) three generations.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people live in families in which no one has worked for (a) two generations and (b) three generations (156444).
	Estimates of the proportion of people living in families in which no one has worked for (a) two generations and (b) three generations are not available from ONS. Questions about the working status of previous generations are not asked to respondents of the Labour Force Survey or any of our household surveys.

Unemployment: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, columns 77-78W, on unemployment: coastal areas, what the level of unemployment is in all other seaside towns in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated May 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 77-8W, on unemployment: coastal areas, what the level of unemployment is in all other seaside towns in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (156440).
	Although not a standard ONS geography, the concept of principal seaside towns in Great Britain was covered in the report “The Seaside Economy”, by Beatty and Fothergill (Sheffield Hallam University, June 2003 (updated June 2010)) and has been referred to in parliamentary debate and used for other parliamentary questions on a number of occasions since. There is no equivalent definition of seaside towns for Northern Ireland.
	Estimates of unemployment are not produced for the principal seaside towns in Scotland and Wales. Instead we have provided estimates relating to the local authorities associated with each of these towns.
	ONS compiles unemployment statistics for local authorities using a model based on the Annual Population Survey (APS) and Claimant Count.
	These figures, along with a wide range of other labour market data for parliamentary constituencies and local authorities, are also published on the Office for National Statistics’ Nomis website:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Unemployment level and rate for people resident in local authorities, January to December 2012 
			 Principal seaside town Local authority Level (Thousand) Rate (Percentage) 
			 Porthcawl Bridgend 6 8.7 
			 Llandudno/ Colwyn Bay/Conwy Conwy 3 6.6 
			 Rhyl/ Prestatyn Denbighshire 3 7.1 
			 Barry The Vale of Glamorgan 5 7.8 
			 Dunoon Argyll and Bute 3 6.3 
			 Greater Ayr South Ayrshire 5 9.2 
			 Source: Model Based Estimates of Unemployment.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General how many officials in (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which they are responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Oliver Heald: The Treasury Solicitors' Department have recorded one claim for evening dress allowance in July 2008. The total cost was £75 for the hire of full evening dress, required to attend an official engagement.
	There have been no other recorded claims for evening dress allowance among the remaining Law Officers' Departments.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many costs have been awarded against the Crown Prosecution Service for disclosure failings in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service maintains records of the overall value of costs payments made but does not distinguish between the various reasons for the award of costs against. To ascertain the reason for individual costs awards made over the last six years would require a review of each individual case which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions the Crown Prosecution Service applied to the Crown to quash its own indictment in each of the last 10 years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) hold figures for the number of prosecutions (by defendant) dropped because the indictment was stayed in each of the last seven years:
	
		
			  Indictment stayed 
			 2006-07 188 
			 2007-08 215 
			 2008-09 231 
			 2009-10 255 
			 2010-11 244 
			 2011-12 222 
			 2012-13 208 
		
	
	This type of application is usually made by the defence, but it can be used by the prosecution to abandon proceedings in which the indictment is defective and it is not possible to cure the defect by amendment.
	The CPS does not separately collect figures which show the number of applications made by the defence as opposed to those made by the prosecution. This information could be obtained only by examining all of the files prosecuted by the CPS, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Logica tablets used by the Crown Prosecution Service will (a) have to be returned at the end of the contract, (b) be subject to an automatic upgrade and (c) be compatible with his Department's IT strategy on electronic working.

Oliver Heald: The Logica tablets will become the property of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) at the end of the contract (March 2015). There is a notional asset transfer charge of £0.01p. There is no automatic upgrade of the tablets included in the purchase price.
	The tablets, and their use in court, are a key component of the Department's digital strategy. They remove the need to print and then transport large case files for advocates in court, delivering both efficiency and cost savings.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Logica tablets used by the Crown Prosecution Service were originally equipped with DVD players.

Oliver Heald: The Logica tablets used by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) were not originally equipped with DVD players. Stand-alone DVD players are provided when required for operational reasons.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) Crown Advocates, (b) Crown Prosecutors and (c) Associate Prosecutors were in post in the Crown Prosecution Service in 2012.

Oliver Heald: The following table shows the number of (a) Crown Advocates, (b) Crown Prosecutors and (c) Associate Prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service and in post at 31 December 2012.
	
		
			 Number 
			 Grade Headcount FTE (Full-time equivalent) 
			 (a) Crown Advocates 582 553.7 
			 (b) Crown Prosecutors 7 6.6 
			 (c) Associate Prosecutors 399 371.7

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service was of trials rendered ineffective because of court administration errors in each year since 2007.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the proportion of trials that were ineffective because of court administration errors. Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by undertaking a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files at a disproportionate cost. Court data are held by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), but while data are held on the number of ineffective trials due to court reasons it does not record a category of “court administrative errors”.

Miscarriages of Justice

Mary Macleod: To ask the Attorney-General what support his Department makes available to people who are falsely accused of a crime in England and Wales.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not provide direct support to persons who have been falsely accused of a crime, unless that person subsequently becomes a victim or witness to any public justice offence(s) (such as perverting the course of justice or wasting police time) charged against the person who made the original accusation. In those circumstances, the CPS will apply its usual policies and procedures to support victims and witnesses and to deliver justice.
	The CPS has a commitment to support the effective participation of victims and witnesses at all stages in the criminal justice process and provides its prosecutors with guidance on the key considerations they should take into account when dealing with victims and witnesses as outlined in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the application of the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims' Code).

Offenders

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of offenders who breached the conditions of their caution were subsequently charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in the fourth quarter of 2012-13.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of decisions made, including decisions to charge, following non-compliance with a conditional caution.
	The figures in the following table represent the number of such decisions made in the fourth quarter of 2012-13.
	
		
			  2012-13, Q4 
			 Non-compliance: Number Percentage 
			 Charge 97 73.5 
			 No prosecution 17 12.9 
			 Continue with variation 18 13.6

Perjury

Mary Macleod: To ask the Attorney-General what guidance he gives to police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service on criteria to be met when deciding whether a false accusation could be a prosecutable criminal offence.

Oliver Heald: I do not provide the police or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with guidance on this matter, however the CPS has published legal guidance for prosecutors on the range of offences which involves conduct that hinders or frustrates the administration of justice, including that of falsely accusing a person of an offence they did not commit. Guidance on the charging standards to be met under each offence can be found in the legal guidance document available on the CPS website at:
	http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/public_justice_ offences_incorporating_the_charging_standard/
	The CPS has also published legal guidance for prosecutors dealing with cases where there has been a false allegation of rape and/or domestic violence. This too can be found on the CPS website at:
	http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/perverting_the_course_of_justice_-_rape_and_dv_allegations/

Police Cautions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions the Crown Prosecution Service has solicited the views of a victim before issuing a caution instead of a criminal charge in each of the last seven years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the occasions in which the CPS solicited the views of a victim before issuing a caution instead of a criminal charge. This information could be obtained only by examining all of the files in which the CPS determined that a caution would be more suitable, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many additional hearings have taken place to resolve prosecution disclosure errors; and what the cost to the Crown Prosecution Service was of such hearings in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the number of additional hearings which take place to resolve prosecution disclosure errors, nor the cost these may incur. This information could be obtained only by examining all of the files prosecuted by the CPS, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many proceedings against a defendant were stayed due to prosecution disclosure failures in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the number of defendant proceedings which were stayed due to prosecution disclosure failures. This information could be obtained only by examining all of the files prosecuted by the CPS, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions prosecutions ceased because the court ordered all charges to be left to lie on the file in each of the last 10 years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain data which show the number of cases where the court ordered all charges to be left to lie on the file (as opposed to those cases where the consent of the court to leave charges to lie on the file was requested by the prosecution). This information could be obtained only by examining all of the files prosecuted by the CPS, which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General what processes the Law Officers' Departments have put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by the Law Officers' Departments.

Oliver Heald: The three statutory instruments introduced by the Attorney-General since May 2010 together extend both the range of offences which the police may prosecute as specified proceedings, and the circumstances in which the police may continue the prosecution. Implementation of a best practice model for specified proceedings, including the application of these provisions, is being overseen by the Home Office, Attorney-General's Office, Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and the Crown Prosecution Service. An evaluation is ongoing and will be completed later this year.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by the Law Officers' Departments in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended.

Oliver Heald: The Law Officers have introduced three statutory instruments since May 2010, details of which are outlined in the following table. As the Law Officers' Departments have made only a very small number of regulations, and only in the area of Specified Proceedings, there was no need to follow the one in one out procedure. Each Order amended the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) Order 1999. None has been revoked.
	
		
			 Department Date laid before Parliament Title of Regulation/Order Publication cost (£) 
			 AGO 26 June 2012 The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) (Amendment) Order 2012 (1)316 
			 AGO 10 August 2012 The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2012 (1)316 
			 AGO 26 October 2012 The Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 (Specified Proceedings) (Amendment No. 3) Order 2012 (1)316 
			 (1) Including VAT.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by the Law Officers’ Departments since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

Oliver Heald: The three statutory instruments introduced by the Attorney-General since May 2010 have the effect of transferring the prosecuting role from the Crown Prosecution Service to the police in certain specified circumstances. The police-led model for prosecutions is designed to be cost-neutral, with the cost to police of preparing and presenting cases offset through orders to pay costs made by the court in successful cases. The evaluation of the police-led prosecution pathfinders will consider the cost to police, as well as how far this has been offset by recovered court costs, and any savings made by the Crown Prosecution Service in no longer dealing with these cases.
	No record is kept of the costs incurred by departmental officials in preparing these orders and such information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) convictions, (b) prosecutions, (c) civil settlements and (d) investigations were brought about by the Serious Fraud Office in 2012-13.

Oliver Heald: 14 offenders were convicted in 20 prosecutions in 2012-13, There were two civil settlements and 14 investigations were begun.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether it falls within the remit of the Serious Fraud Office to investigate allegations of oil-price manipulation by oil companies operating in the UK.

Oliver Heald: If there are allegations of criminal acts they will be assessed in the context of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) remit to investigate fraud, bribery and corruption. If appropriate, relevant matters will be considered for criminal investigation in line with SFO internal procedures. The SFO does not comment on its assessments or their status at any one time but does publish on its website details of those cases formally adopted for criminal investigation, whenever this is possible without prejudice to the investigation.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Serious Fraud Office plans to work alongside the European Commission in investigating allegations that oil prices were manipulated by oil companies operating in the UK.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office is aware of the allegations of oil price manipulation and is in dialogue with a number of agencies. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General how many officials in (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Oliver Heald: It is not possible to provide the information requested for the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, as extracting the necessary data would require extensive analysis of paper records over the past five years which would incur a disproportionate cost.
	Tables have been deposited in the Library of the House containing recorded information on the number of officials in the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office who claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years, the total cost of these claims and the monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each year.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions a Reaper UAV has launched a weapon in Afghanistan.

Andrew Robathan: Reaper is the UK's only armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). As at 11 May 2013, 335 Hellfire precision guided missiles and 51 GBU-12 laser guided bombs had been released from UK Reapers in support of UK and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
	Weapons are only released by RPAS under the command of trained pilots.

Afghanistan

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Ministry of Defence personnel who will be deployed to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy to provide training and related support will be female; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: On current plans, the Afghan National Army Officer Academy mentor team will have eight female only positions filled by Ministry of Defence personnel. These posts are dedicated to the support of female cadet training.
	In addition to the mentoring roles, the UK will deploy a number of personnel in related support positions. We expect these will be open to female personnel, but will not know the total number deployed until decisions around deployments are made nearer the time.
	All positions will be subject to review as lessons are learnt during the initial mentoring phase.

Afghanistan

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to allow interpreters working for UK armed forces in Afghanistan to settle in the UK.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	We are currently reviewing the provisions provided to support locally employed civilians, including interpreters, as we draw down our combat mission in Afghanistan. No decision has been taken on what part, if any, relocation to the UK will take in the package of support offered to locally engaged staff. But we will honour our commitment to consider their safety and security beyond the term of their employment with Her Majesty's Government.

Armed Forces: Basic Skills

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, columns 611-13W on armed forces: basic skills, what proportion of candidates in the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Army passed the initial assessment results for (i) numeracy and (ii) literacy at the levels referred to in that answer.

Andrew Robathan: The conduct of an Initial Assessment on numeracy and literacy provides a diagnostic tool used to establish starting levels of recruits and as such it does not have pass or fail criteria. The figures supplied previously are the results of all of the initial assessments that were conducted by the armed forces in the time period concerned.

Armed Forces: Death

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  who has responsibility of determining whether to carry out an internal review or a service inquiry in the case of service personnel killed in action;
	(2)  what the criteria are for determining whether to carry out an internal review rather than a service inquiry recommended by a coroner in the case of service personnel killed in action.

Mark Francois: holding answer 14 May 2013
	If a member of the armed forces is killed in action, a convening authority must be appointed to decide whether there is to be a service inquiry. The convening authority is an officer of or above the rank of Naval Captain, Colonel or Group Captain who is normally in the chain of command of the ship/unit/establishment of the personnel involved in the matter to be investigated.
	The test to be applied by the convening authority is laid down in the Armed Forces (Service Inquiries) Regulations 2008. The regulations state that the convening authority must cause a service inquiry to be held, if he/she considers that anything of consequence to the armed forces which is not apparent from the death may be learned by the armed forces by means of a service inquiry. In making a decision the convening authority will no doubt have regard to any recommendation made, or views expressed, by a coroner. However, coroners do not have the authority to determine the way in which their recommendations are taken forward, including requesting a service inquiry. The convening authority will also take into account other work connected to the incident, such as a wider review of policy, processes and procedures to capture lessons and implement measures to help prevent a recurrence.

Armed Forces: Domestic Violence

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 12 June 2012, Official Report, column 446W, to the hon. Member for Luton North, on armed forces: domestic violence, whether the domestic abuse protocol has been rolled out to all garrison areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The domestic abuse protocol in place between the Service Police (which at that time meant the Ministry of Defence Police, the Royal Military Police and the Royal Air Force Police) and Hampshire Constabulary has been expanded to include Thames Valley police and the Royal Navy Police and now relates to the handling of incidents within Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Thames Valley.
	No further expansion has yet taken place.

Armed Forces: Domestic Violence

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the JSP 913 Tri-Service Policy on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: All Joint Service Publications are subject to periodic review to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the user and reflect current departmental policy. This process also serves to evaluate their effectiveness.
	Such a review and revision of JSP 913 is scheduled this year to reflect recent changes introduced as part of the Government strategy to tackle domestic and sexual violence.

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service family accommodation properties have had a Green Deal assessment to date.

Mark Francois: Green Deal Energy Company Obligation assessments have been carried out on 300 service family accommodation properties to date.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations of child abuse there were by (a) service personnel and (b) civilian staff against (i) service personnel and (ii) civilian staff based in Germany by service in each year since 2005; how many of those were (A) referred for prosecution and (B) resulted in a conviction; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: For information held on child sexual offences I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), gave on 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1128W. The Ministry of Defence holds the following information recorded by the service police on other child abuse(1) allegations involving service(2) or civilian personnel based in Germany in the period between the implementation of the Armed Forces Act 2006 on 1 November 2009 and 31 December 2012.
	The total number of cases relating to allegations of child abuse in Germany in this period is 35. Of these cases a total of 29 were alleged by either service personnel or civilian staff and are broken down by year as follows.
	
		
			  Allegations made by service personnel based in Germany Allegations made by civilian staff based in the Germany 
			 2009 1 0 
			 2010 17 1 
			 2011 6 0 
			 2012 3 0 
			 Total 28 1 
		
	
	The remaining six cases were alleged by civilian dependants.
	Of the 35 overall cases, the total number of allegations made against either service personnel or civilian staff is 22. These cases are broken down by year as follows.
	
		
			  Allegations made against service personnel based in Germany Allegations made against civilian staff based in Germany 
			 2009 1 0 
			 2010 13 0 
			 2011 6 0 
			 2012 1 1 
			 Total 21 1 
		
	
	The remaining 13 cases were alleged against civilian dependants solely.
	Of the 35 overall cases, 16 were referred for prosecution. Of the 16 cases referred, 10 comprised service personnel and one of civilian staff. The remaining cases comprised civilian dependants solely.
	Of the 10 service personnel referred for prosecution, four were convicted of offences in relation to the alleged incident. No civilian staff were convicted of offences.
	(1) ‘Child Abuse’ has been interpreted as offences that would be categorised under 'Child Cruelty'. This definition comprises offences under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and also Section 27 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
	(2) All of the recorded information regarding service personnel in this period relates to Army personnel.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answers of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1128W and 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1129W, on armed forces: sexual offences, whether any of the allegations made by service personnel relate to children placed in schools funded by the continuity of education allowance; when such allegations were made; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The information is not held in the format requested. However the Ministry of Defence takes the issue of the safeguarding of children very seriously, including in relation to service children undergoing education with the support of the continuity of education allowance (CEA) scheme. In rare cases where an issue arises with a school, parents are permitted to move their children to another school of their choice without loss of CEA if they wish.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1128W, on armed forces: sexual offences, which Department is responsible for investigations in lieu of local authority responsibilities under child protection legislation; what training is made available to staff in order to conduct investigations into child sexual offences; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The British Forces Social Work Service—delivered by the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association (SSAFA) under contract to the Ministry of Defence, is the provider of a statutory social work service in British Forces Germany (BFG).
	All new child protection cases in BFG are investigated by a team comprising SSAFA social workers and the Royal Military Police. However, as in the UK, the nature and circumstances of the allegation will determine if the investigation is a single agency lead, for example, police only or social work only.
	All SSAFA social workers are registered with the appropriate professional body, Health and Care Professions Council and are senior practitioners, with a number of years experience, recruited from the UK, and they bring with them demonstrable experience in statutory children services. They are trained in 'Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings'. The Royal Military Police are also trained to deal with child abuse and safeguarding issues.
	BFG has a Local Safeguarding Children Board which has responsibility for ensuring the quality of safeguarding practice and inter-agency working across BFG which will involve all interested parties such as health workers, teachers and welfare services.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations relating to the possession of indecent images have been made against (a) armed forces personnel and (b) civilian staff based in Germany in each year since 2005; how many such allegations have (i) been referred for prosecution and (ii) resulted in a conviction; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence service police hold the following recorded information on allegations relating to the possession of indecent images(1) made against service or civilian personnel based in Germany in the period between the implementation of the Armed Forces Act 2006 on 1 November 2009 and 31 December 2012.
	
		
			  Allegation made against service personnel Allegation made against civilian staff 
			 2009 1 0 
			 2010 4 0 
			 2011 6 l 
			 2012 4 l 
			 Total 15 2 
		
	
	The above allegations comprise of a total of 17 cases. Detailed as follows is the status of the cases, divided by year.
	
		
			 Outcome 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Cases investigated but did not result in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006. 1 2 1 1 
			 Cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Courts Martial or other disciplinary proceedings. 0 1 1 0 
			 Cases which resulted in Courts Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction. 0 1 1 0 
			 Cases ongoing. 0 0 4 4 
			 Total 1 4 7 5 
		
	
	(1 )This includes all indecent images of children as defined by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the Protection of Children Act 1978.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answers of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1128W and 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1129W, on armed forces: sexual offences, how many allegations made (a) by and (b) against service personnel were referred to local authorities for investigation under child protection legislation; which local authorities were notified; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Armed Forces: Offences Against Children

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many allegations of child abuse were made (a) by and (b) against (i) service personnel and (ii) civilian staff based in the UK in each service in each year since 2005; how many such allegations (A) were referred for prosecution and (B) resulted in a conviction; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: For information held on child sexual offences I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1127W.
	For the other child abuse offences(1) the Ministry of Defence police (MDP) and the service police have no record of any allegations made by or against members of the armed forces or civilian staff in the UK between 1 November 2009 and 31 December 2012 in which the service police or the MDP were the investigative lead.
	(1 )“Child Abuse” has been interpreted as offences that would be categorised under ‘Child Cruelty’. This definition comprises offences under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and section 27, Offences Against the Persons Act (OAPA) 1861.

Armed Forces: Qualifications

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces who started phase 2 training had not reached entry level 3 skills in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Andrew Robathan: The armed forces training regime is structured, phased and progressive. No personnel started phase 2 training before they had reached entry level 3 skills between 2010-12.

Armed Forces: Qualifications

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to mandating GCSE training during (a) Phase 1 and (b) Phase 2 training.

Andrew Robathan: The qualifications linked to initial training are Functional Skills and Apprenticeships, underpinning the practical approach embodied in the military. There is currently no intent to mandate their replacement with GCSEs. However, all personnel are encouraged to engage in personal development throughout their careers and they may elect to study for further qualifications, including GCSEs.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost of recruitment was per armed forces recruit; and what the total cost to the public purse was of recruitment for all new personnel into the (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army in each year since 2010-11.

Mark Francois: The cost of regular armed forces recruiting in 2011-12 was £205.5 million which can be broken down by service as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Royal Navy 32 
			 Army 134.5 
			 RAF 39 
		
	
	The total number of contacts from individuals seeking information about a military career in this period was 162,412, with applicants totalling 49,208. The selection process produced a total of 14,810 successful recruits, from which an average cost of £13,875 can be derived. The cost of generating a contact through our recruiting and marketing operations was approximately £1,250.
	Capturing the total cost of recruiting across the armed forces is a complex and resource-intensive task. For 2010-11, when both the recruitment budget and recruitment targets were below normal levels, these calculations were not carried out.
	The cost of recruiting in 2012-13 will be available later this year.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 22 April 2013, Official Report, columns 619-20W, on armed forces: recruitment, if he will represent the data giving the numbers who (a) were tested and (b) passed for each of the three services in each of the last 20 years.

Mark Francois: The armed forces fitness testing regimes have changed several times in the last 20 years. The information available covers the last seven financial years.
	The numbers of recruit applicants who were fitness tested for service and passed the test for the Naval Service and the RAF is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Tested Passed 
			 2006-07   
			 RN(1) 5,576 5,012 
			 RAF 1,697 1,531 
			    
			 2007-08   
			 RN 5,600 5,035 
			 RAF 3,480 2,881 
			    
			 2008-09   
			 RN 6,597 5,946 
			 RAF 4,691 4,054 
			    
			 2009-10   
			 RN 9,671 8,607 
			 RAF 3,721 3,107 
			    
			 2010-11   
			 RN 7,859 6,898 
			 RAF 2,125 1,767 
			    
			 2011-12   
			 RN 7,684 6,503 
			 RAF 2,625 2,262 
			    
			 2012-13   
			 RN 6,505 6,400 
			 RAF 2,059 1,768 
			 (1 )The Naval Service figures include those who have been re-tested. 
		
	
	The Army does not separate its fitness test results from the overall result of a three-day selection process. As a result it is not possible to identify the pass rate of the fitness test.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications for recruitment to the armed forces of plans to raise the school leaving age to 18; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: The implications for recruitment of the raising of the participation age for all 16 and 17-year-olds accords well with the armed forces approach to recruitment. Of the three options available to 16 and 17-year-olds to meet this obligation, the Ministry of Defence provides two, undertaking an apprenticeship and taking full-time employment that includes structured training. The armed forces recognise this and as the largest national deliverer of apprenticeships, regard the continued participation of 16 and 17-year-olds in this way as central to the professional and personal development of this cohort. Experience shows that, in general terms, those who are recruited at 16 and 17 often become particularly effective members of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many young people have been recruited into each of the armed forces at the age of 16 or 17 in each of the last five years from (a) independent schools, (b) public schools and (c) state schools.

Andrew Robathan: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Scotland

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1125W, on armed forces: Scotland, what the name is of each of his Department's properties in Scotland (a) currently and (b) anticipated to be subject to commercial negotiation.

Andrew Robathan: A list showing Ministry of Defence properties in Scotland, exclusive of Service Family Accommodation, will be placed in the Library of the House.
	Any of these properties may currently or in the future be subject to commercial negotiation. The information for all properties in Scotland could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1126W, on armed forces: sexual offences, if he will provide a breakdown by year for (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and sexual assault by penetration of (i) the number of cases not investigated (ii) cases investigated but not resulting in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006, (iii) cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings, (iv) cases resulting in a conviction, (v) cases which resulted in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction for a lesser offence, (vi) cases resulting in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which did not result in a conviction and (vii) cases ongoing; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The following tables detail the breakdown by year of the outcomes on allegations of rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault made by armed forces personnel serving in Germany since 1 November 2009 to 31 December 2012.
	
		
			 2009 
			  Rape Sexual assault by penetration Sexual assault 
			 Cases not investigated because the complaint was not pursued 0 0 0 
			 Cases investigated but not resulting in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 0 0 1 
			 Cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings. 1 0 0 
			 Cases resulting in a conviction 0 0 0 
			 Cases which resulted in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction for a lesser offence 0 0 0 
			 Cases resulting in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which did not result in a conviction 0 0 0 
			 Cases ongoing 0 0 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 
			  Rape Sexual assault by penetration Sexual assault 
			 Cases not investigated because the complaint was not pursued 0 0 0 
			 Cases investigated but not resulting in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 0 0 1 
			 Cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings. 2 1 1 
			 Cases resulting in a conviction 0 0 3 
			 Cases which resulted in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction for a lesser offence 0 0 0 
			 Cases resulting in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which did not result in a conviction 0 0 1 
			 Cases ongoing 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 
			  Rape Sexual assault by penetration Sexual assault 
			 Cases not investigated because the complaint was not pursued 0 0 0 
			 Cases investigated but not resulting in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 1 1 0 
			 Cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings. 1 0 2 
			 Cases resulting in a conviction 0 0 1 
			 Cases which resulted in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction for a lesser offence 0 1 0 
			 Cases resulting in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which did not result in a conviction 0 0 1 
			 Cases ongoing 1 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 
			  Rape Sexual assault by penetration Sexual assault 
			 Cases not investigated because the complaint was not pursued 0 0 0 
			 Cases investigated but not resulting in a person being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 0 0 0 
			 Cases resulting in persons being referred to a prosecuting authority under the Armed Forces Act 2006 but did not result in Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings. 0 0 0 
			 Cases resulting in a conviction 0 0 0 
			 Cases which resulted in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which resulted in a conviction for a lesser offence 0 1 0 
			 Cases resulting in a Court Martial or other disciplinary proceedings which did not result in a conviction 1 1 0 
			 Cases ongoing 0 0 5 
		
	
	Since my earlier answer two previous cases have been updated and are no longer shown as ongoing.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, columns 1127-30W, on armed forces: sexual offences, what power a commanding officer has to (a) refer and (b) not refer an allegation for investigation; under what (i) statutory and (ii) non-statutory authority that power is exercised; who carries out any such investigation; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: A commanding officer is obliged to refer all allegations of sexual offences listed in schedule 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006 to the service police, in accordance with the Act and the Manual of Service Law. Where allegations are made relating to sexual offences not listed in schedule 2, commanding officers still have a duty to investigate these appropriately but they cannot deal with them summarily. In practice it is likely they will be reported to the service police. Investigations by the service police will comply with the relevant provisions of Armed Forces Act 2006, subordinate legislation under the Act and other applicable legislation (such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to the Armed Forces) Order 2009).

Armed Forces: Termination of Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people left the armed forces in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Mark Francois: holding answer 15 May 2013
	The total number of personnel who left the armed forces over the requested timeframe is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2007-08 24,760 
			 2008-09 21,650 
			 2009-10 18,270 
			 2010-11 18,140 
			 2011-12 21,370 
		
	
	Full details of outflow from UK Regular Forces broken down by service can be found in chapter 2 of the ‘UK Defence Statistics 2012’ publication at the following website:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS/UKDS2012/c2/table220.php

British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has been invited to attend the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association Conference in Coventry from 24 to 26 May 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: There is no record of the Secretary of State for Defence having received an invitation to the British Nuclear Test Veterans conference.

British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many times submarines have been berthed in Loch Goil as part of testing at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre in each of the last five years;
	(2)  on how many occasions the Royal Navy has used the Z-berths at (a) Loch Goil and (b) Loch Ewe in each of the last five years.

Philip Dunne: The terms Z berth and X berth refer specifically to berths suitable for use by operational nuclear powered warships (NPW) within HM naval bases authorised for work on nuclear systems, namely at Devonport and Clyde. All berths for operational NPWs outside these two HM naval bases are referred to as operational berths.
	Loch Goil and Loch Ewe have operational berths, which have been used by the Royal Navy as follows:
	
		
			 Operational berth location Type of berth 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013(1) 
			 Loch Goil Mooring 8 4 3 3 3 2 
			 Loch Ewe Alongside 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) The figures for 2013 are up to and including 15 May 2013. 
		
	
	The Loch Goil mooring does not form part of the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre and as such no visits to that mooring have been conducted as part of that testing.

Climate Assessments

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many climate assessments in relation to equality and diversity have been conducted by each of the three services since 2010; if he will place a copy of each such assessment in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination. Each of the services, as a high priority, is actively educating their personnel to encourage a military culture in which each individual is valued, respected, and encouraged to realise their full potential. In addition, each service analyses qualitative evidence gathered through regular surveys and also employs specific management tools to ensure progress and develop effective equality and diversity strategies at unit level.
	Climate assessments are a confidential tool which the Army have found very useful in identifying and resolving equality and diversity issues as they arise locally. In the timeframe requested, the Army has carried out 209 such assessments.
	The Navy and the RAF do not routinely conduct formal climate assessments. The Navy uses a biennial system of programmed visits to units to advise and support the implementation of equality and diversity policies and procedures. Where there is a requirement to do so, such visits can occur more frequently. In total, since 2010 the Royal Navy have conducted 116 such visits. Similarly, the RAF task their Personnel Casework teams to conduct regular assurance visits to RAF stations, with the aim of monitoring trends and identifying areas requiring attention.
	I do not intend to place copies of climate assessments in the Library of the House. These assessments capture frank and open discussions provided on the understanding that information will remain confidential. Releasing this information could reduce the confidence of service personnel in speaking out about inappropriate behaviour in this way, and therefore undermine the effectiveness of these reports.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Andrew Robathan: The costs of evening dress allowance and the number of personnel who have claimed it are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Staff in receipt of evening dress allowance 
			 Financial year Total (£) Number of recipients 
			 2008-09 4,668.33 30 
			 2009-10 2,605.03 15 
			 2010-11 2,963.78 13 
			 2011-12 2,554.73 8 
			 2012-13 3,001.99 14 
		
	
	This allowance is for the hire of evening dress by civilian staff for official functions, or for the purchase of it if more than three functions are foreseen, in which case 75% of the cost may be recovered through the allowance. However this is only available once in every 10 years.

Defence Support Group

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 24 April 2013, Official Report, column 903W, on Defence Support Group, whether the dividend returns from Defence Support Group represents a net gain to the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Alison Seabeck) on 4 March 2013, Official Report, column 846W.

Defence: Expenditure

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter referred to by the Permanent Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, in his evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on 4 February 2013 which sets out defence expenditure assumptions.

Philip Hammond: No. The letter in question was addressed to me from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and relates to discussions of funding between spending reviews and other matters that would not normally be released.
	I can, however, say that the letter confirmed the departmental expenditure limits for the current spending review period and that the 10-year funding profile for the Equipment Programme had not changed.

Defence: Procurement

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has contributed towards expenditure on urgent operational requirements since May 2010.

Philip Dunne: The vast majority of Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) expenditure is funded from HM Treasury Reserve. Information on any UOR expenditure funded from the Department's core equipment programme is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Enfield

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding (a) his Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible has allocated to the London borough of Enfield local authority in each of the last five years.

Mark Francois: The UK defence budget is not allocated or planned on a regional basis. The Ministry of Defence therefore does not allocate any money to the London borough of Enfield. We may make some payments to the borough, such as parking charges, but these are not collated separately.

Guided Weapons: USA

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK weapon systems currently in service were acquired through the Foreign Military Sales system; how many such systems have conducted testing in the US; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that testing.

Philip Dunne: 11 in-service UK weapons systems have been acquired through the US Foreign Military Sales system. Of these, three have been tested in the US at an overall cost of £16.6 million.

Mobile Phones

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which company holds the largest contract to provide mobile telephony services to his Department; how much was paid under the contract in the last year for which figures are available; how many individual services are covered by the contract; when the contract was awarded; when the contract will next be renewed; and for how long. [Official Report, 2 September 2013, Vol. 567, c. 2MC.]

Philip Dunne: holding answer 16 May 2013
	The majority of mobile telephones supplied to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are provided by Vodafone through an enabling arrangement through the Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service (DFTS) contract with British Telecom. The MOD paid a total of £5.3 million (including VAT) for mobile services in financial year 2012-13.
	A variety of services are covered by the Vodafone contract but at the simplest level they can be divided in to voice accounts and data accounts. At the end of March 2013 there were 34,924 voice accounts and 8,517 data accounts.
	The Vodafone element of the DFTS contract was renewed following competitive processes in 2011 and is due to expire in 2015. Renewal of this contract is currently an element of a wider re-procurement activity for Defence Core Network Services.

Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance his Department issues on the actions that would result in the suspension or removal of a bonus payment to an official in his Department; what the process is for clawing back such bonuses; and on how many occasions this has happened in each of the last five years.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence performance related pay system is retrospective and based upon work already carried out and reported upon; therefore, no guidance is required in relation to the suspension or removal of a bonus. We do not have a process to claw performance awards back and there is no record of this having occurred in the last five years. Bonuses are awarded on a performance basis and for the last performance year it is anticipated that changes to the system will result in reductions to the overall cost of some £13 million.

Pensions: Ministry of Defence

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the percentage that will be deducted from the salaries of members of the (a) Defence Fire and Rescue Service and (b) Ministry of Defence Police in employee pension contributions in 2015-16 when their normal pension age is (i) the state pension age or (ii) 60 years old.

Mark Francois: holding answer 14 May 2013
	The average pension contribution for members of both the Defence Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) and Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in 2015-16, when their normal pension age (NPA) is the state pension age, will be 5.6%.
	Those who are within 10 years of their normal retirement age as at April 2012 will pay additional contributions but they will not see any increase in the age at which they can draw their pension benefits in full. All others will see their normal pension age increase in 2015-16. It is not possible to specify what the impact on contributions would be, if the NPA were to be reduced to 60 for either DFRS or MDP personnel. This would depend on how the additional costs, when they are known, would be shared between the Ministry of Defence and its employees. In line with the requirement set out in the Public Sector Pensions Act 2013 we have recently started a review of the normal pension age for both groups which will address these issues.

Publications

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on subscriptions to academic journals published by (a) Reed-Elsevier, (b) Wiley-Blackwell, (c) Springer and (d) any other academic publisher in each of the last five years.

Mark Francois: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Reserve Forces

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many service personnel received their bounty in each unit of the (a) Territorial Army, (b) Royal Air Force Reserve, (c) Royal Navy Reserve and (d) Royal Marine Reserve in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many service personnel are in each unit of the (a) Territorial Army, (b) Royal Air Force Reserve, (c) Royal Navy Reserve and (d) Royal Marine Reserve.

Mark Francois: Training bounty is paid to entitled individuals who complete a specified annual training requirement.
	The information is not held in the format requested. The readily available data are shown in the following tables.
	Territorial Army—15,510 personnel received a bounty as at 1 March 2013 against a trained strength of around 19,000. It is not possible to break this total down by unit or to provide data for the previous two years.
	Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve—Details of the number of Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserve who received their bounty and the number of personnel for each of the past three years are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel by Squadron (unit) at 1 March 2013 
			  Number of personnel Number receiving bounty payment Percentage receiving bounty 
			 All personnel 1,380 920 67 
			 501 80 50 68 
			 504 60 40 73 
			 600 80 50 66 
			 602 30 20 70 
			 603 80 50 59 
			 606 110 80 73 
			 609 70 40 52 
			 612 70 40 63 
			 1359 30 20 57 
			 2503 70 40 53 
			 2620 70 40 57 
			 2622 60 40 63 
			 2623 60 30 48 
			 4624 180 120 70 
			 4626 100 90 83 
			 7006 60 40 75 
			 7010 40 30 83 
			 7630 20 20 89 
			 7644 20 10 73 
			 Tactical Provost Wing 50 40 65 
			 Unit unknown 60 40 67 
		
	
	
		
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel by Squadron (unit) at 1 April 2012 
			 Squadron Number of personnel Number receiving bounty payment Percentage receiving bounty 
			 All personnel 1,380 860 63 
			 501 70 40 62 
			 504 60 40 71 
			 600 70 50 73 
			 602 20 20 73 
			 603 70 20 30 
			 606 120 80 70 
			 609 70 30 45 
			 612 60 40 60 
			 1359 20 10 52 
			 2503 70 50 64 
			 2620 60 30 50 
			 2622 60 40 63 
			 2623 50 30 65 
			 4624 180 130 72 
			 4626 120 70 60 
			 7006 60 50 74 
			 7010 40 30 70 
			 7630 20 20 71 
			 7644 20 10 60 
			 Tactical Provost Wing 50 30 53 
			 Unit unknown 70 50 63 
		
	
	
		
			 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel by Squadron (unit) at 1 April 2011 
			 Squadron Number of personnel Number receiving bounty payment Percentage receiving bounty 
			 All personnel 1,380 890 64 
			 501 80 50 68 
			 504 60 40 69 
		
	
	
		
			 600 70 50 79 
			 602 30 20 81 
			 603 50 30 61 
			 606 120 80 66 
			 609 70 30 49 
			 612 50 30 61 
			 1359 30 20 61 
			 2503 70 50 64 
			 2620 60 40 58 
			 2622 70 40 61 
			 2623 50 40 66 
			 4624 190 130 66 
			 4626 110 80 70 
			 7006 70 30 50 
			 7010 40 20 64 
			 7630 30 10 41 
			 7644 10 10 67 
			 Tactical Provost Wing 40 20 54 
			 Unit unknown 80 60 74 
		
	
	Strengths include mobilised personnel and those serving on Additional Duties Commitments and High Readiness Reserve contracts. Those on Full Time Reserve Service are excluded.
	Data are considered provisional. A number of individuals are not attached to a squadron.
	Bounty data represent the number of individuals currently on strength who had received a bounty payment at any time during the preceding 12 months.
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, except for those ending in ‘5’ which are rounded to the nearest 20 in order to prevent systematic bias.
	Royal Navy Reserve (RNR)—Details of the number of Royal Navy Reserves and Royal Marine Reserves (RMR) who received their bounty and the number of personnel relating to RNR and RMR Units as at 1 March 2013 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to provide data for the previous two years
	
		
			 RNR personnel by unit at 1 March 2013 
			  Number of personnel Number receiving bounty payment Percentage receiving bounty 
			 Total personnel 1,980 1,320 66 
			 RNR Air Branch 310 200 64 
			 RNR Media Operations 50 40 75 
			 Fleet CMR 20 10 76 
			 HMS Ferret—RNRIU 110 90 85 
			 HMS Calliope 120 80 72 
			 HMS Cambria 90 60 65 
			 HMS Dalriada 80 50 68 
			 HMS Eaglet 140 100 70 
			 HMS Flying Fox 80 60 76 
			 HMS Forward 90 70 75 
		
	
	
		
			 HMS Hibernia 100 60 60 
			 HMS King Alfred 190 120 63 
			 HMS President 220 130 61 
			 HMS Scotia 110 80 73 
			 HMS Sherwood 70 40 58 
			 HMS Vivid 120 70 58 
			 HMS Wildfire 80 50 59 
			 Other units 20 10 53 
		
	
	
		
			 RMR personnel by unit at 1 March 2013 
			  Number of personnel Number receiving bounty payment Percentage receiving bounty 
			 Total personnel 650 340 53 
			 RMR Bristol 140 80 54 
			 RMR London 150 80 56 
			 RMR Merseyside 160 80 52 
			 RMR Scotland 120 50 45 
			 RMR Tyne 60 40 69 
			 RM Poole 10 — 36 
			 Other units 10 10 43 
		
	
	Strengths include mobilised personnel and those serving on Full Time Reserve Service, Additional Duties Commitments and High Readiness Reserve contracts.
	Bounty and unit data represent the number of individuals currently on strength who had received a bounty payment at any time during the preceding 12 months.
	Units with fewer than 10 RMR personnel have been grouped into '’Other Units’. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, except for those ending in ‘5’ which are rounded to the nearest 20 in order to prevent systematic bias.
	Data are considered provisional and ‘—’denotes zero or rounded to zero.

Reserve Forces

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether he plans to include measures regarding reservists in the Defence Reform Bill announced in the Queen's Speech;
	(2)  whether he plans to publish the Reserves White Paper before introducing the Defence Reform Bill to Parliament.

Mark Francois: holding answer 14 May 2013
	As stated in the Queen's Speech on 8 May 2013, measures will be included in the Defence Reform Bill which will strengthen the Reserve Forces. The exact dates for publication of the Reserves White Paper and introduction of the Defence Reform Bill have yet to be finalised.

Veterans

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the annual cost is of providing veterans of the UK armed forces with concessionary (a) bus fares and (b) train fares;
	(2)  how many veterans of the UK armed forces receive concessionary (a) bus fares and (b) train fares.

Mark Francois: The provision of concessionary travel to veterans of the UK armed forces is a matter for the public transport operating companies. The Ministry of Defence does not provide any concessions but is grateful to those companies that do; for example, Transport for London runs the veterans concessionary travel scheme, which includes free travel on all forms of London public transport, designed for veterans in receipt of war pension scheme or armed forces compensation scheme payments.
	Veterans may also gain travel concessions through the existing, publicly available schemes, such as family or pensioners cards supplied by the operating companies.
	We hold no records of those who apply for or receive these concessions.

Veterans: Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many individuals who left the armed forces in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 found employment lasting (i) less than and (ii) more than six months;
	(2)  how many individuals who left the armed forces found employment lasting (a) less than and (b) more than six months through the Career Transition Partnership in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012.

Mark Francois: holding answer 15 May 2013
	Participants in the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) programme are sent a questionnaire six months after they leave the armed forces to monitor their employment status.
	Over the last four years, returns indicate an average 93% of former CTP participants who were looking for work found employment within six months of leaving service. The duration of employment is not recorded.

Veterans: Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, column 1284W on Employment: veterans, 
	(1)  what the size of the sample used in the sampling exercise is;
	(2)  how the employment rate at the six month point post-discharge is calculated;
	(3)  how many service-leavers referred to in that Answer went on to have sustained employment for (a) six and (b) 12 months in each year since 2008-09;
	(4)  how many people have been employed for (a) six, (b) five, (c) four, (d) three, (e) two months and (f) one month at the six month point post-discharge.

Andrew Robathan: Defence Statistics are currently reviewing the methodology for calculating the employment outcomes of ex-service personnel who have used the Career Transition Programme. Official Statistics on this subject will be published in June 2013. The release date will be announced on the Defence Statistics website in accordance with the UK Statistics and Registration Act.

Veterans: Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what routine engagement his Department has with employers on veterans' employment.

Andrew Robathan: The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) provides the connection for hundreds of employers seeking to employ service leavers which results in numerous opportunities and offers of employment not only for leavers but also veterans. The Ministry of Defence continues to engage with all industry sectors commercial, public and community, voluntary to identify and foster both transition and post-service support opportunities for those leaving the armed forces. Service leavers move out of the CTP process two years after discharge. At this stage they are also entitled to life-long job finding support through either the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
	I am delighted that the skills and qualities that service leavers possess are recognised and sought by so many of the UK's leading organisations.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the levels of recruitment and retention of women in the Afghan National Police; what discussions he has had with representatives of the Afghan Government on measures to increase levels of recruitment and retention of women; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: In line with the Afghan National Police Strategy, the Government of Afghanistan and the international community are working to create opportunities for women within the police force. The Afghan Ministry of the Interior has stated a goal of adding 1,333 women to the ranks of the police every year. The Ministry is not yet meeting this target; as of April 2013 there are approximately 1,489 female officers in the ANP. However, we will continue to raise this issue and are encouraging and supporting the Ministry of the Interior to work towards meeting its goal.

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Afghan Government regarding measures to protect Afghan women human rights defenders; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We share the widespread concern about the attacks and intimidation faced by the dedicated and courageous women who work tirelessly to defend the rights and fundamental freedoms of others. This year the UK has provided £500,000 in funding to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to help it act to protect human rights defenders, investigate and catalogue violence, and support those seeking justice.
	Human rights, particularly women's rights, were a key priority for the visit of the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi to Afghanistan on 4-6 March. She raised women's rights with Afghan parliamentarians, civil society organisations and the Afghan Foreign Minister, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, who was very clear that gains made on women's rights must not be lost.

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Afghan Government with regard to Afghan women participating in all peace negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are committed to working to ensure that women play as full a part as possible in securing a peaceful and prosperous future Afghanistan, and that the Afghan political system and Afghan-led peace process are inclusive and reflect the needs and aspirations of all Afghan citizens, including women and girls.
	The Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi discussed women’s vital contribution to building peace, security and prosperity in Afghanistan with the Afghan Government and wider Afghan authorities, leading female parliamentarians and other government and civil society representatives during her visit to Afghanistan in March this year.

Angola

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on trends in (a) greater transparency and (b) democratic accountability in Angola.

Mark Simmonds: Since the end of civil war in 2002, Angola has made steady progress in building a more transparent and accountable democratic system, including through the two national elections held in 2008 and 2012.
	Angola rose 11 places in Transparency International’s 2012 perceptions index reflecting the Angolan Government’s stated intent to tackle corruption. On democratic development, planning is under way for the first ever local government elections—which should further strengthen democratic principles. During my visit to Luanda in November last year, I was able to meet a range of Government Ministers, civil society and opposition parties. These meetings allowed me to hear a diverse spectrum of thoughts on the current—and future—state of democracy in Angola.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which non-target marine species have been recorded as being caught by the commercial fishery in Ascension Island in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2013 to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was set up in October 2010. Data from before this period are unavailable.
	The non-target marine species caught in Ascension Island waters since October 2010 were:
	Striped Marlin
	Black Marlin
	Sail Fish
	Blue Marlin
	Other—comprising various species of shark

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total tonnage of (a) target fish species and (b) non-target species caught by the commercial fishery in Ascension Island was in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2013 to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was set up in October 2010. Data from before this period is unavailable.
	Total amount to date:
	Target species: 6101.57 MT (Metric Tonnes)
	Non-target species: 678.6 MT
	Amount in each year—2013
	Target species: 1450.39 MT
	Non-target species: 92.31 MT
	Amount in each year—2012
	Target species: 1913.63 MT
	Non-target species: 314.4 MT
	Amount in each year—2011
	Target species: 2601.86 MT
	Non-target species: 261.86 MT
	Amount in each year—2010
	Target species: 135.70 MT
	Non-target species: 10.03 MT

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vessels were licensed to fish in the waters of Ascension Island in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2013 to date; and what fish each such vessel was licensed to catch.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was set up in October 2010. Data from before this period is unavailable.
	The number of licenses issued each year is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2010 39 
			 2011 65 
			 2012 27 
			 2013 39 
		
	
	Each license is valid for one year only. The license permits the catching of target fish species only.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of fishing licences sold for use in the waters of Ascension Island was in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2013 to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was set up in October 2010. Data from before this period are unavailable.
	The total value of fishing licences sold to date from when records began is: £2,790,000.
	
		
			  £ 
			 2010 585,000 
			 2011 1,051,500 
			 2012 451,500 
			 2013 702,000

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the flag state was of each vessel licensed to fish in the waters of Ascension Island in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2013 to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was set up in October 2010. Data from before this period are unavailable
	2010—China (1), Japan (2), Korea (5), Philippines (2) and Taiwan (29)
	2011—Belize (1), Japan (21), Korea (3), Philippines (4) and Taiwan (36)
	2012—China (1): Japan (6), Korea (1) and Taiwan (19)
	2013—China (1), Japan (9), Philippines (1) and Taiwan (28)

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on non-target species of the commercial fishery in Ascension Island.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. The commercial fishery was recently licensed in 2010 on a trial basis and there has yet to be a formal assessment of the impact of the fishery on non-target species. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to work with the Island authorities to implement a sustainable fisheries plan.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times foreign commercial fishing vessels have docked at Ascension Island in each of the last five years; and what the flag states of such vessels were.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. A pilot commercial fishery was licensed in October 2010. Data from before this period are unavailable. Commercial fishing vessels do not call at Ascension Island. Exceptionally, the Argos Georgia (flag state: St Helena) called in March 2010 during a dedicated monitoring expedition to assess catch potential, and to observe for potential illegal, unlicensed and unregulated vessels.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many independent observers have recorded target and non-target catch levels in the Ascension Island fishery in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2013 to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. The commercial fishery was recently licensed in 2010 on a trial basis and to date there has yet to be an independent observer on board vessels to record target and non-target catch. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has offered funding for the use of an independent observer. Ascension Island Government is keen to lake advantage of this offer.

Ascension Island

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimates of fish stocks were made for target fish species in the Ascension Island fishery (a) prior to the issuing of licences in 2010 and (b) to date.

Mark Simmonds: Fisheries management is a devolved issue and as such is the responsibility of the Ascension Island Government. There was no local assessment of fish stocks for target fish species in the Ascension Island fishery prior to the issuing of licences on a trial basis in 2010. The fishery must not exceed catch limits (quota) available to each participating country, which are set and regulated at an international level by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Licensing this fishery has provided the mechanism to ensure that catches are now reported on at a local level, which is a key element of any future, more localised, fish stock assessment. Ascension Island Government, along with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other key stakeholders, are exploring mechanisms to better police and regulate the fishery.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration has intervened or apprehended vessels under suspicion of illegal fishing in the last year.

Mark Simmonds: In accordance with the British Indian Ocean Territory Fisheries (Conservation and Management) Ordinance 2007, four vessels have been arrested for illegal fishing, 10 have been given warnings and five have been cautioned in the year up to 12 May 2013.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice's adoption of a revised draft resolution on crime prevention and criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking in protected species of wild fauna and flora, reference E/CN.15/2013/L.20/Rev, how his Department plans to respond to this resolution to tackle wildlife crime, including links to serious organised crime.

Mark Simmonds: Wildlife crime is a matter of great concern to the whole of Her Majesty's Government. Policy responsibility for wildlife crime and its links to serious organised crime lies with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May). From a foreign policy perspective, it is a matter which undermines the rule of law, impacts on the rules based international system, compromises global security and is a barrier to economic development. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas network therefore works on behalf of HMG to build international partnerships to combat this repugnant trade.

Cyprus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Cypriot Government on urban development within the UK sovereign base areas since the Cypriot president's statement on 19 April 2013 concerning an agreement between Cyprus and the British sovereign base areas on urban development; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: Neither the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), nor I, have had any discussions with the Government of Cyprus on urban development within the UK sovereign base areas. However, officials will be discussing this issue further with their Cypriot counterparts, with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable outcome.

Fiji

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UK's investment in public transport in Fiji; and if he will make a statement.

Hugo Swire: The Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) has acted as guarantor to loans made by a German bank to the Government-owned aviation company Air Pacific. This was to enable Air Pacific to purchase a Rolls-Royce engine. We are not aware of any other UK investment in public transport in Fiji.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to extend the UK's claim to a territorial water surrounding Gibraltar from three to 12 nautical miles.

David Lidington: We have no plans at present to extend British Gibraltar Territorial Waters to 12 nautical miles but we retain the option to do so, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters there have been over the last six months.

David Lidington: There have been 176 unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels in the period from 1 November 2012 to 30 April 2013.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to deter illegal incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters by Spanish Civil Guard boats.

David Lidington: The Royal Navy challenges Guardia Civil vessels whenever they make unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters (BGTW). We also make formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish Government about all such incursions. We will continue to do all that is necessary to uphold British sovereignty over BGTW.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Spanish Ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office over the last 12 months in respect of Spanish incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters.

David Lidington: The Spanish ambassador has been publicly summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office once in the last 12 months in respect of unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters by Spanish state vessels.

Gibraltar

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that Spain complies with its obligation under the Cordoba Agreements.

David Lidington: As part of regular diplomatic engagement, the UK Government continues to encourage Spain to comply with its commitments under the 2006 Cordoba Agreement, which represented a significant step forward in co-operation between the UK, Spain and Gibraltar. The UK Government continue to recognise the value of dialogue and supports a return to a trilateral process in which Gibraltar is actively involved. We make this position clear to the Spanish Government whenever it is appropriate to do so. We have also ensured that the European Commission is aware of the UK position.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Chief Minister of Gibraltar has been put under pressure by his Department to allow Spanish fishermen to fish illegally in British Gibraltar territorial waters; and what assessment he has made of the recent evidence from Dr Tydeman to the Environmental Audit Committee on 17 April 2013 alleging that such pressure has been applied.

David Lidington: My Department has regular discussions with the Government of Gibraltar and has supported their efforts to find a solution to the fishing dispute, encouraging all parties to show restraint and cooperate with the Government of Gibraltar.
	The UK Government have a single policy on Gibraltar, which is agreed across Whitehall Departments including the Ministry of Defence and discussed with the Governor.
	I will write to the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee about the Gibraltar related-issues raised in the oral evidence that the Committee has taken from Dr Tydeman.

Ilois: Resettlement

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will make an announcement on the future of the Chagos Islands and the future resettlement of the islanders.

Mark Simmonds: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 March 2013, Official Report, column 905W.

Libya

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide an update on progress made in bringing to justice those responsible for the desecration of British war graves in Libya.

Alistair Burt: The British Government remain shocked and appalled by the damage to British war graves in Libya in March last year, as were the Libyan Government. We have raised this issue with the Libyan authorities and urged them to bring those responsible to justice. However, the Libyan Government's priority at the moment continues to be focused on the overall security situation in Benghazi and as such they are unlikely to have the capacity to investigate this particular crime. Nevertheless, we have made progress with the Libyan authorities in taking action to repair the damage and introduce measures to prevent such an act from happening again.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the security situation in Libya; and whether such reports affect the right of Libya to hold the trials of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi within its national borders alongside the trials of other members of the former Gaddafi regime.

Alistair Burt: We are concerned about the recent events in Libya in which armed militias surrounded and blockaded the Foreign and Interior Ministries in an attempt to force through the vote on the Political Isolation law. We, the US and France issued a joint statement to express our concern. We welcome the agreement reached on 10 May that allowed the Ministries to return to work. We do not believe that recent events affect the right of Libya to hold the trials of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi, but it is crucial that Government Ministries are permitted to function during this transitional period in order to ensure a fair and effective justice system.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in respect of technical assistance to Libya in pursuing its right to hold the trials of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi within its national borders alongside the trials of other members of the former Gaddafi regime.

Alistair Burt: We have not offered assistance to Libya specifically with regard to the trials of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi. We recognise the importance of security and justice sector reform in Libya more widely, and will continue to work with our international partners to provide Libya with the support it needs. To that end, we have sent a detentions advisor to Libya to assist with a prison reform project on which we are working with the Libyan authorities.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy to support the Libyan state in its right under the principle of complementarity to hold national trials in the cases of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi alongside the trials of other members of the former Gaddafi regime.

Alistair Burt: The UK remains a steadfast supporter of the International Criminal Court. We are fully committed to the principle that there should be no impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. We recognise Libya's right to try Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi, as enshrined in the Rome Statute. However, it is for the International Criminal Court to decide whether the cases of Saif al Gaddafi and Al-Senussi should be transferred to Libya.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recommend to the United Nations Security Council the exercise of the power to order the deferral of proceedings against Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi under Article 16 of the Statute of the International Criminal Court in order to support Libya in its right to hold the trials within its national jurisdiction alongside the trials of other members of the former Gaddafi regime.

Alistair Burt: It is for the court to decide whether the cases of Saif al Gadaffi and Al-Senussi should be returned to Libya. We continue to urge Libya's full co-operation with the International Criminal Court.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will promote an agreement between Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC) whereby the ICC can provide technical assistance to Libya to hold national trials in the cases of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi alongside the trials of other members of the former Gaddafi regime.

Alistair Burt: It is for the Libyan Government and International Criminal Court (ICC) to reach a mutual agreement on the provision of technical assistance to facilitate the effective handling of the cases of Saif al-Islam Gadaffi and Abdullah al-Senussi, as well as those of other members of the Gadaffi regime. We will support any decision that is reached. We stand ready to offer assistance to both Libya and the ICC if so requested, in addition to the assistance that we already provide to the Libyan justice system.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the members of the (a) Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, (b) Westminster Foundation for Democracy, (c) British Council, (d) Foreign Compensation Commission and (e) Great Britain China Centre were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Hugo Swire: As at 1 January 2013, the members/Commissioners of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC) were as follows:
	Dr John Hughes (Chair); Dr Ruth Kosmin (Deputy Chair); Michael Birshan; Professor Bob Deacon; Timothy Hornsby; Carol Madison Graham; Simon Morris; Professor Eric Thomas and Professor Nigel Thrift.
	Commissioners are appointed for three year terms: all positions are unpaid.
	As at 1 January 2013, the members of the Board for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) were as follows:
	Ann McKechin MP; Lord George Foulkes; Pete Wishart MP; Andrew Rosindell MP; John Glen MP; Gary Streeter MP; Tina Fahm; Ken Jones: John Osmond and Bronwen Manby.
	Board members are appointed for three year terms, which are unpaid (save for travel expenses).
	As at 1 January 2013, the following were members of the British Council Board:
	Claire Ighodaro CBE; Professor Pamela Gillies; Sue Hoyle OBE; Raoul Shah; Howell James CBE; Simon Fraser CMG; Martin Bean; Baroness Usha Prashar CBE; Richard Gillingwater; Gareth Bullock; Rosamund Marshall; James Boyle; Sir Vernon Ellis (Chair); and Professor Stephen Jones BSc PhD.
	Council Board appointments are for three year terms and are unpaid.
	As at 1 January 2013, the Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC) Chair (and only member) was Dr John Barker. Dr Barker was appointed for five years and his remuneration was a judicial per diem of £468 per day.
	As at 1 January 2013, the Board members of the Great Britain China Centre (GBCC) were:
	Peter Batey OBE (Chair); Chris Fitzgibbob, Lorna Ball (Vice Chair); Hugh Davies (Vice Chair); Sir Christopher Hum (Vice Chair); Liam Byrne MP; Richard Graham MP; Duncan Hames MP; Clare Hammond; John Hughes; Madelaine Sturrock; Joanna Roper; Martin Davidson and Dr Rod Wye.
	Board members are appointed for three year terms which are unpaid.

Pakistan

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the incoming Government of Pakistan on that country’s blasphemy law;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the incoming Government of Pakistan on that country’s position on religious freedom.

Alistair Burt: It is vital that Pakistan guarantees the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith, gender or ethnicity. On 22 January, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi hosted a global ministerial conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief in London and she was able to discuss these issues in detail with the human rights adviser to the then Pakistani Prime Minister.
	Once a new Government has been established in Pakistan, we will raise human rights issues, including blasphemy laws, with them.

Russia

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has received from non-governmental organisations on political freedom in Russia.

David Lidington: Human rights is a priority area in our bilateral relationship with Russia and supporting the development of a strong civil society forms a key part of this. We have regular direct contact with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) based in Russia and the UK. In recent months we have received representations from various NGOs about legislation governing the operation of civil society. We are concerned about the series of laws passed in 2012, including the “foreign agents” NGO law. I raised this subject with Deputy Foreign Minister Titov during my visit to Moscow in February. In a statement in March, I urged the Russian authorities not to place advocacy groups under special scrutiny. Senior officials also raised our concerns about the treatment of civil society at the 2013 UK-Russia Human Rights Dialogue held in Moscow on 8 May, and provided a debrief for NGOs in London on 17 May.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met (a) the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs and (b) any other Scottish Government Minister; and what was discussed at any such meeting.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have regular contact with devolved Administration Ministers in the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) (JMC(E)) to discuss European business which touches upon devolved responsibilities. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) met the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs at the JMC(E) on 3 December 2012 to discuss European business affecting devolved Administrations and prepare for the December European Council. I am also in regular contact with the Cabinet Secretary, both in the context of the JMC(E) and on other aspects of EU business.
	The Foreign Secretary has not had meetings with any other Scottish Government Ministers.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold a central record of contracts which details the location of the supplier organisation.
	FCO Services, one of our largest non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) has spent a total of £2,076,611.44 with companies in Scotland on Technical Support; Vehicles and Vehicle Parts; and Translation Services between May 2010 and March 2013. We do not hold the data for our other NDPBs.
	Further details of the Department's expenditure (including contracts data) can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications

Somalia

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women attended the conference on Somalia held on 7 May 2013 in London as delegates; what proportion of the total delegates were women; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: No formal note was made of the gender of delegates that attended the Somalia conference on 7 May in London. In total, representatives from 54 countries and organisations attended the conference, which was co-chaired by the Prime Minister and by the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, also attended. Prominent women members of HMG who attended included the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening).
	As part of the preparations for the conference, the Foreign and commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Home Office jointly hosted a seminar event on 29 April in which prominent civil society members from Somalia and the UK Diaspora came together to discuss issues facing women in Somalia today.

Spain

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  for what reasons the British Ambassador in Madrid has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid over the last seven days.
	(2)  whether there has been any formal complaint received from the Spanish Government in respect of the Queen's Speech.

David Lidington: We respect the confidentiality of private diplomatic communications and we do not disclose their content.

Taiwan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the protocols on UK relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognising that country's status.

Hugo Swire: Our position on Taiwan remains unchanged. Her Majesty's Government actively promotes and facilitates the strong and flourishing UK-Taiwan relationship which is based on trade, investment, cultural, educational and other links.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

David Lidington: The information requested, relating to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its non-departmental public bodies, is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Since January 2010 the FCO has moved to a system where staff only claim for ‘actual’ expenditure necessarily incurred as part of their duties. Actual expenses are either claimed back or processed on Government Procurement Cards. This replaced the ‘subsistence’ fixed based system which was in use prior to 2010. The current FCO policy ensures accountability and transparency in all our travel claims as they are regularly audited, while all transactions made on Government Procurement Cards over £500 are published on a monthly basis as part of our transparency obligation.
	A list of all Government Procurement Card financial transactions spending over £500 made by the FCO, as part of the Government's commitment to transparency in expenditure, can be found at:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/government-procurement-card-spend-over-500-apr-to-aug-2011
	A list of all Government Procurement Card financial transactions spending over £500 made by FCO Services can be found here:
	http://data.gov.uk/dataset/government-procurement-card-spend-over-500-in-fco-services

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the Friends of Yemen Conference on 7 March 2013 in London.

Alistair Burt: At the meeting the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), focused discussion on the National Dialogue, election planning, and progress towards allocating donor aid; and restated the UN's position that anyone seeking to disrupt political transition would face further measures. The Government of Yemen delegation presented its election plan and Friends of Yemen pledged money to a UN-administered election fund. I have recently been assured by Yemeni Foreign Minister al-Qirbi that progress has been made on deciding an appropriate mechanism to ensure eligible voters can participate in elections next year. Since the 7 March meeting the National Dialogue Conference has finally begun, and I am encouraged by Yemeni-led efforts to establish an Executive Bureau to hasten the delivery of donor aid.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much and what proportion of funds pledged at each Friends of Yemen Conference have been (a)  allocated to projects, (b) approved, (c) disbursed and (d) pledged by the UK Government.

Alistair Burt: The Friends of Yemen was not created as a donor forum. Its principal aim is to co-ordinate political support from the international community for the Government of Yemen as it seeks to implement reform. The right hon. Member will be aware of last year's Donor Conference in Riyadh. We have also seen smaller announcements of aid at recent Friends of Yemen meetings. In New York in September 2012 an additional $1,462 billion was promised and at the meeting in March $70 million was pledged.
	The Government of Yemen stated in March that of the $7.9 billion pledged in 2012, $2.7billion has been approved and $1.8billion disbursed. The creation of the Executive Bureau, a Government body designed to facilitate faster delivery of aid in a co-ordinated and transparent way, is expected to hasten the disbursement of pledges. Together with the World Bank, the Bureau is in the process of creating a matrix of projects to absorb donor aid.
	The UK, through the Department for International Development, announced a three-year plan for Yemen in 2012—including a pledge of £196 million of Official Development Assistance. £173.9 million of the pledge has to date been allocated, including £70 million to humanitarian projects, £4.4 million to support National Dialogue, and £7 million to fund preparations for next year's elections. To date, £68.2 million of the UK's pledged funds has been spent.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Angola

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department provides to economic and democratic development in Angola.

Lynne Featherstone: Although DFID does not have a bilateral aid programme in Angola, the UK continues to support the economic and democratic development of Angola through our share of contributions to multilateral organisations such as the European Union (EU) and through regional programmes.
	For example, the 2008-13 EU Angola Country Strategy provides €214 million in total financing, contributing to sustainable economic development and support for the Angolan Government's strategy to combat poverty and achieve the millennium development goals (MDG).
	The EU and Angola signed a new co-operation partnership agreement in July 2012, the EU-Angola Joint Way Forward (JWF) which agreed on the principles of democracy and abidance by human rights and good governance.
	The World Bank is also currently revising its Country Partnership Strategy with the Government of Angola for the next three to four years.

CDC

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what safeguards her Department has put in place to ensure the new Commonwealth Development Corporation-managed Impact Fund investments in health will reach the poorest and those most in need.

Justine Greening: Investment agreements will identify a target number of beneficiaries by income level that funds will reach through their investments. Fund performance will be assessed against those targets. Indicators, developed with support from the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), will also monitor and evaluate the impact of investments on development outcomes including health.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people in her Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Alan Duncan: None.

Consultants

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts awarded to private contractors in the last three years required her Department to release funding beyond the original tender.

Justine Greening: DFID's standard terms of contract with suppliers provide the ability to vary or extend funding.

Developing Countries: Armed Conflict

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the compliance of her Department's policies in respect of funding for aid agencies operating in situations of armed conflict with the (a) general principle of the supremacy of the Geneva Conventions and (b) principle of provisions of non-discriminatory medical care to survivors of rape defined under international law as wounded and sick; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: UK funding of humanitarian agencies to meet the needs of those affected by armed conflict is aligned to HMG's Humanitarian Policy. Policy Goal 6 states that HMG will
	“implement the appropriate political, security, humanitarian and development actions necessary to uphold respect for international law, protect civilians and to secure humanitarian access”.
	In conflict situations UK-funded medical care is provided through humanitarian organisations. These organisations work according to humanitarian principles including the provision of non-discriminatory aid provided according to need and need alone. Where rape has been perpetrated, survivors are provided assistance by humanitarian agencies which include medical, psychological and social care.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's support for health services has been provided as (a) general budget and (b) sector budget support for each year between 2008 and 2013.

Justine Greening: Details of the total expenditure on health are published in Statistics on International Development (SID), which is available in the House Library or online at
	http://www.gov.uk
	Figures for support for health services provided as (a) general budget and (b) sector budget support are reproduced as follows:
	
		
			  As a percentage of total DFID bilateral aid to health 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 General budget support 8 8 6 4 
			 Sector budget support 19 17 15 12 
			 Subtotal of budget support as proportion of health bilateral spend 27 25 21 16

Developing Countries: Third Sector

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department provides funding to guarantee safe spaces for community organisations' leaders and local communities to meet and hold discussions.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government recognise that safe spaces for community organisations' leaders and local communities, to meet and hold discussions, are essential for effective civic engagement and delivering better outcomes for poor people. Although the Department for International Development does not specifically provide funding to organisations for holding meetings and discussions, we encourage organisations that work closely with DFID to support and protect spaces for civic engagement. In discussions with other Governments and international institutions, the UK Government also consistently emphasise the value and importance of protecting space for legitimate civil society activities.

EU Aid

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations and individuals are responsible for (a) operating and (b) scrutinising EuropeAid and the European Development Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: European Commission Directorate-General EuropeAid and the European External Action Service are primarily responsible for the operation and delivery of aid programmes under the European Development Fund and EU aid instruments under the General EU Budget.
	A UK Representative sits on all the committees to take decisions on funding and programming of EU development spend under the European Development Fund and the EU aid instruments under the General EU budget. I and my officials have regular dialogue with our EU counterparts, including EuropeAid and the External Action Service about EU development policies.
	The European Court of Auditors is responsible for scrutinising the funding and performance of these aid programmes to examine whether financial operations have been properly recorded and disclosed, legally and regularly executed and managed so as to ensure economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
	Details of the individuals responsible within EuropeAid and the External Action Service can be found on the respective organisations' websites:
	http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/who/whoswho/index_en.htm
	http://www.eeas.europa.eu/background/organisation/index_en.htm

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) financial and (b) other support the UK has provided to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria since the inception of the Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Global Fund keeps its accounts in US dollars. Since its inception, the UK has contributed the pound sterling equivalent of $1,875 million. We are currently the fund's third largest contributor. In addition to financial support, the UK continues to be an active and engaged member of the fund's governance bodies in Geneva. The UK sits on the fund's governing board, and is a member of the fund's finance and operational performance committee. For the last two years the chairman of the fund's governing board has been a UK official, though he acts in an independent capacity.
	At the country level the UK, through DFID country offices, provides a range of complementary funding and other support to national plans and Global Fund supported programmes, as well as advice and support through in-country governance bodies, most notably the Country Co-ordinating Mechanisms which manage Global Fund grants.

International Assistance

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had on the role of corporate transparency in the UN post-2015 development framework; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on corporate reporting and the UN post-2015 development framework;
	(3)  what her policy is on the inclusion of corporate transparency in the UN post-2015 development framework.

Justine Greening: The UK is supportive of including economic, social and environmental reporting by businesses in the post-2015 Framework, and we are working with others in the international community to explore how this could be addressed.
	I have regular discussions with officials, NGOs and other ministerial colleagues on the post-2015 agenda.

International Assistance

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects the High Level Panel on the Sustainable Development Goals to produce its report.

Justine Greening: The High Level Panel on the post-2015 development agenda will deliver its report to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 30 May 2013. The report will be publically available from 31 May 2013.

Overseas Aid

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department channels aid in a way that encourages cross-sector collaboration.

Justine Greening: Country operational plans ensure that a holistic approach is taken to development across sectors.

Overseas Aid

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to improve the integration of her Department's programmes between its Whitehall and in-country offices.

Justine Greening: In-country offices are supported by regional teams in the UK, to help ensure consistency of approach and spread best practice.

Overseas Aid

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of her Department's overseas development assistance budget has been spent in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Duncan: Over the last 10 years, DFID will have spent some of its budget in the UK through for example its operating expenses, grants to UK civil society organisations and development awareness programmes. The Department's systems do not separately identify resources spent in the UK and it would incur disproportionate cost to identify this spending for the last 10 years.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policies her Department has in place to ensure (a) the poorest people and (b) women benefit from her Department's private sector team investments on education, health and water and sanitation.

Justine Greening: DFID's private sector approach paper sets out how we will deliver results for poor people including more accessible, better quality healthcare, schooling and water and sanitation (WASH)
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-engine-of-development-the-private-sector-and-prosperity-for-poor-people

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department's private sector team will spend £17 million on education, health and water and sanitation.

Justine Greening: The total value of PSD's current project portfolio on health, education, and water and sanitation programmes is almost £56 million. Details of the health and education programmes are available at
	https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/international-development/development-funding-business
	More information on PSD's WASH programmes can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/helping-developing-countries-economies-to-grow/supporting-pages/helping-developing-countries-to-improve-their-infrastructure

Private Education

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent in aid on the payment of private school fees (a) by country and (b) in each year since 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID works to ensure the best possible quality of education for all children in each of the countries in which we work. Alongside our large-scale programmes to support public sector delivery, we also work to support the children who are outside the public system, whether out-of-school, or enrolled in non-state schools.
	For example, in Pakistan, in 2012-13 we provided £5 million to the Punjab Education Foundation to enable poor children to attend low cost private schools. In Sindh, we are piloting an innovative private sector fund, which in 2011-12 DFID provided £1,027,000 to two non-government organisations to support 17,687 poor children attend low cost private schools.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who the members of the (a) Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and (b) Independent Commission for Aid Impact were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Alan Duncan: DFID has two non-departmental public bodies, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI). Currently CSC has 13 members and ICAI has four. Details of the current membership, term of office and remuneration are in the following tables.
	
		
			 Commonwealth Scholarship Commission 
			 Commissioners name Term Remuneration (£) 
			 Professor Tim Unwin (chair) 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2014 6,000 per year 
			 Professor Mark Cleary 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2014 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Richard Burge 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Anthony Cary 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Professor Lorna Casselton 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Professor Graham Furniss 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Professor Christine Humfrey 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2014 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Richard Middleton 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2015 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
		
	
	
		
			 Professor Nyovani Madise 1 May 2008 to 30 April 2014 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Kathy Mansfield 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2015 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Professor Jeff Waage 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Ros Wade 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2014 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
			 Professor Jonathan Wastling 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2014 250 per day 2 to 3 days per year 
		
	
	
		
			 Independent Commission for Aid Impact 
			 Commissioners name Term Remuneration (£) 
			 Graham Ward (Chief Commissioner) 12 May 2011 to 11 May 2015 600 per day up to 65 days per year 
			 Mark Foster 12 May 2011 to 11 May 2015 300 per day up to 55 days per year 
			 Diana Good 12 May 2011 to 11 May 2015 300 per day up to 55 days per year 
			 John Githongo 12 May 2011 to 11 May 2015 300 per day up to 55 days per year 
		
	
	DFID records and retains anonymised data of ethnicity for statistical purposes only, and does not publish an individual's ethnic details.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by her Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended;
	(2)  what processes her Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by her Department.

Alan Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 390W.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met (a) the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and International Development and (b) any other Scottish Government Minister; and what was discussed at any such meeting.

Justine Greening: I regularly visit DFID staff in East Kilbride and plan to meet Scottish Government Ministers on my next visit.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

Alan Duncan: DFID’s online supplier portal registers UK suppliers at the UK level only, complying with European Union regulations.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public body for which she is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Alan Duncan: DFID's financial records do not enable identification of the number of officials claiming reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses, without incurring disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

A14

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on alternative approaches to resolving issues along the A14 corridor; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: On 18 July 2012 the Secretary of State for Transport announced plans for improving the A14 between Huntingdon and Milton, north of Cambridge. The announcement on 18 July also stated Government support for desirable rail investment to enable more freight to be carried between Felixstowe and Nuneaton, and a package of public transport improvements. Details are available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a14-challenge
	In the interim we are making small improvements to the A14 over three years, through a package announced at the 2011 autumn statement and two Pinch Point schemes.
	Additionally, work will begin in 2013-14 on major improvement schemes between junctions 7 and 9 at Kettering and at Catthorpe Interchange where the A14 intersects with the M1 and M6, subject to the completion of statutory processes.

Air Passenger Duty

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of air passenger duty on the UK's tourism, aviation and airport industries.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), meets with the Chancellor as part of his day to day business, during which a wide range of issues are discussed. Decisions on taxation, including air passenger duty, are taken by the Chancellor.

Bridges: River Thames

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce the potential locations for the new Lower Thames Crossing; when he plans to launch a consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: In the 2011 National Infrastructure Plan, the Government made a commitment to building a new crossing across the Lower Thames, and launched the analysis of three options to inform a consultation in 2013. It is my intention, before the House rises, to launch a consultation inviting views on the merits of three options for locating a new road based river crossing in the Lower Thames area and a variant of one of these three options.

Bridges: River Thames

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the Lower Thames Crossing has been provided by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Stephen Hammond: In the 2011 National Infrastructure Plan, the Government made a commitment to building a new crossing across the Lower Thames, and launched an analysis of options to inform a consultation in 2013. No decisions have yet been taken about the nature of any scheme to introduce a new Lower Thames crossing or the means of providing it. It is my intention, before the House rises, to launch a consultation inviting views on the merits of identified options for locating a new road-based river crossing in the Lower Thames area.

Bus Services: Disability

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of progress towards the 2015 and 2020 targets for all buses to be fully accessible to disabled people.

Norman Baker: Statistics on the number of buses which meet the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, as well as the number of low floor buses are collected as part of the Department's annual Public Service Vehicles survey. The results are published in the autumn on the .GOV website. The latest figures, published in 2012, show that 71% of buses in England meet the Accessibility Regulations.

Bus Services: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any local authorities have placed a requirement on bus service operators in their area to charge an adult fare only to persons aged 18 years or over; and if he will consider the merits of supporting any local authority which wishes to do so.

Norman Baker: Local authorities which are Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) have powers to implement discretionary schemes which put an obligation on bus operators to accept concessionary fares for groups of people. In 2011/12, 28 out of 89 TCAs outside London offered concessions to young people. In addition, bus operators in 80 TCA areas offered their own commercial discounts. The age restrictions applicable to each local scheme vary. Statistics on the provision of youth discounts can be found in National Statistics Table BUS0842 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus08-concessionary-travel

Bus Services: Fares

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the merits of introducing a statutory definition of an adult fare on all bus services.

Norman Baker: The Government appreciate that the fares offer for young people using buses varies significantly across the country, and that greater consistency would be fairer and could make bus travel more attractive.
	The majority of bus operators already operate some form of discount for young people, and I have encouraged them to continue improving their offers.

Bus Services: Tickets

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress he has made on introducing smart ticketing for all bus services for young people; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government have recently announced two smart ticketing initiatives: the Smart Cities Partnerships and the Managed Service Pilot. In these, we are working closely with local authorities and operators to increase smart ticketing coverage. We also pay a smartcard incentive component in Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG) to encourage operators to install smart ticketing. Over 50% of commercially operated buses in England outside London are now smart-equipped, and the number continues to rise. The types of tickets offered using smart ticketing technology is a matter for bus operators and local authorities to decide.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Norman Baker: Allowances claimed for evening dress are not recorded separately from travel and subsistence and therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Crossrail Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the Greater London Authority to raise the £4.1 billion towards its agreed contribution for the total cost of Crossrail from a new business rates supplement.

Stephen Hammond: Yes. Of the £4.1 billion that Greater London Authority (GLA) was to provide toward the Crossrail project from business rates, some £2.9 billion has already been raised by the GLA through borrowing secured against future income from the Crossrail Business Rate Supplement, and directly from the Crossrail Business Rate Supplement itself. A breakdown is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 (to date) Total 
			 Borrowing 800 700 699 200 2,399 
			 Direct contribution 32 336 120 — 488 
			 Total 832 1,036 819 200 2,887 
		
	
	The Mayor of London reports regularly on the Crossrail Business Rate Supplement and the borrowing that it supports. Further information on the Business Rate Supplement can be found here:
	http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/supporting-enterprise/crossrail-business-rate-supplement

Crossrail Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the funding for Crossrail rolling stock to be met by the Government will be secured through the UK Guarantees scheme.

Stephen Hammond: The Government, the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) announced on 1 March 2013, a move to a fully publicly funded procurement for the delivery of the new fleet of trains and maintenance facilities for Crossrail thereby helping to ensure that passenger services can open as scheduled in late 2018. This change was proposed by the Mayor of London and agreed by the Secretary of State.
	The previous proposal to procure Crossrail rolling stock included a £350 million public sector contribution. The revised arrangement will see the public sector finance increase to 100% or around £1 billion. The additional funding is expected to be provided by increased TfL borrowing.
	In light of the decision to fund the procurement publically the UK Guarantees scheme is no longer required.

Cycling

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Government to issue a cross-departmental cycling action plan; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The coalition has a commitment to support sustainable travel, including cycling. The “Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon” White Paper and the Department for Transport’s Door to Door Strategy set out actions and funding to deliver on this commitment.
	The Government also welcome the all-party group on cycling inquiry and report. We are currently looking at the recommendations carefully and will respond in due course.
	In addition, the Department for Transport has been co-ordinating a cross-departmental effort to promote cycling, in particular with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health. We now plan to take this further by establishing a project team involving more Departments.

Driving: Young People

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish his young drivers Green Paper.

Stephen Hammond: We plan to publish the young drivers Green Paper this summer.

Driving: Young People

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representatives of young people were present at the March 2013 summit for the motor industry hosted by his Department.

Stephen Hammond: None. However, the Department published its research into young people and parents views of driving and insurance on 25 March which is available on the:
	www.gov.uk
	website. Young people are also free to give their views on the options in the forthcoming Green Paper.

East Coast Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the funding for the Hitchin Flyover and North Doncaster Chord on the East Coast Main Line has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Simon Burns: All of the funding for both the Hitchin Flyover and the North Doncaster Chord on the East Coast Main Line is provided by Network Rail.

East Coast Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the (a) Hitchin Flyover and (b) North Doncaster Chord on the East Coast Main Line.

Simon Burns: Network Rail report that the Hitchin Flyover will be ready for commissioning in June 2013 and that full train service introduction is planned for the timetable change date in December 2013.
	Network Rail also report that work started at the North Doncaster Chord site in November 2012 and that good progress is being made on the construction of the new rail flyover and road bridge. This project is due to be completed in spring 2014.

Electric Vehicles

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have received the maximum discount on the cost of a new (a) car and (b) van as a result of the Government's Plugged-in Places scheme.

Norman Baker: The Government's Plugged-in Places scheme was established to make funding available to eight areas in the UK to install charging infrastructure to support electric vehicles. It follows therefore that nobody has received discounts on the costs of new cars or vans as a result of the Plugged-in Places scheme.

Felixstowe Port

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the construction of Felixstowe South; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: In September 2011, Hutchison Port Holdings opened the first two berths of the Felixstowe South development. This provided the first new deep water container capacity for some years in the UK. I understand that Hutchison Port Holdings are proceeding with the second phase of Felixstowe South, which, depending on demand for capacity and economic growth, may be completed around 2018.

Gatwick Airport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the cost of the Gatwick capital investment programme has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Simon Burns: Gatwick airport’s capital investment programme is funded entirely by the airport operator, Gatwick Airport Ltd.

Gatwick Airport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Gatwick Capital Investment Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Gatwick airport's capital investment programme is funded entirely by the airport operator, Gatwick Airport Ltd. The airport is in the fifth year of its programme for the period 2008 to 2014 (or Q5 plus 1), with significant progress having already been made on refurbishing and redeveloping the north and south terminals at the airport. Further information can be found about the improvements on the airport operator's website at:
	http://www.gatwickairport.com/business/transforming-gatwick/capital-investment-plan/

Great Western Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much train operating companies will provide towards the £704 million for electrification of the Great Western Main Line between Cardiff, Bristol and Didcot.

Simon Burns: The train operating companies are contributing expertise and resource in developing the project specification and operating outcomes. They are not contributing towards capital costs.

Heathrow Airport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the cost of the Heathrow capital investment programme has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Simon Burns: Heathrow airport’s capital investment programme is funded entirely by the airport operator, Heathrow Airport Ltd.

Heathrow Airport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on Heathrow terminal 2A; and whether the system installation has been completed.

Simon Burns: Heathrow terminal 2A is expected to be ready for passenger use in 2014. A timeline for the work and updates on progress can be found on the airport operator’s website at:
	http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/improving-heathrow/heathrow's-new-terminal-2

Heathrow Airport

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Heathrow capital investment programme; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Heathrow airport’s capital investment programme is funded entirely by the airport operator, Heathrow Airport Ltd. The airport is in the fifth year of its programme for the period 2008 to 2014 (or Q5 plus 1), with significant progress having been made on refurbishing and redeveloping the terminals at the airport, in particular the new terminal 2. Further information can be found about the improvements on the airport operator’s website at:
	http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/improving-heathrow

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of High Speed 2 on forests and woodland. [R]

Simon Burns: The draft Environmental Statement published on 16 May 2013 assesses the impact on forests and woodland on a local basis. The permanent route-wide effect on forestry land is currently being assessed and this assessment will continue to be refined up to the deposit of the formal Environmental Statement, alongside the hybrid Bill later this year.

King’s Cross Station

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the King's Cross station improvements; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Network Rail has commenced work on the final stage of the £550 million enhancement and renewal scheme at King's Cross station. The work on the new Southern Square is due to be completed in late September 2013.
	This will mark the end of the programme that has seen the construction of the new Western Concourse, which opened in March 2012, a new platform as well as the complete refurbishment of the existing platforms and roof in the main train shed.

London Gateway Port

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress has been made on the construction of London Gateway; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects the first quayside container cranes and port equipment to be delivered to the London Gateway site.

Stephen Hammond: London Gateway, the new port and logistics park, is being financed and built by DP World. It has already taken delivery of the first five quay cranes. I have been assured that London Gateway is still on schedule to open its first berth this autumn.

Motorways: Construction

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  at what stage of construction the M1 junctions 10 to 13 project has reached; and when he expects the project to be completed;
	(2)  at what stage of construction the transport schemes (a) M62 junctions 25 to 30, (b) M4 junctions 19 and 20 and M5 junctions 15 to 17, (c) M6 junctions 5 to 8, (d) M1 junctions 32 to 35A, (e) M1 junctions 28 to 31 and (f) M25 junctions 5 to 6 and 7 have reached; and when he expects each to be completed;
	(3)  how much and what proportion of the final cost of the transport schemes (a) M62 junctions 25 to 30, (b) M4 junctions 19 and 20 and M5 junction 15 to 17, (c) M6 junctions 5 to 8, (d) M1 junctions 32 to 35A, (e) M1 junctions 28 to 31, (f) M25 junctions 5 to 6 and 7, (g) M1 junctions 39 to 42, (h) M60 junctions 8 to 12, (i) M60 junctions 15 to 12 and (j) M62 junctions 18 to 20 has been contributed by (i) local authorities, (ii) private companies and (iii) central Government;
	(4)  at what stage of construction the transport schemes (a) A23 Handcross to Warninglid trunk road and (b) A11 Fiveways to Thetford dualling scheme have reached; and when he expects each to be completed;
	(5)  how much and what proportion of the total cost of the transport schemes (a) A23 Handcross to Warninglid trunk road, (b) A11 Fiveways to Thetford dualling scheme and (c) A556 Knutsford to Bowden has been contributed by (i) local authorities, (ii) private companies and (iii) central Government;
	(6)  how much and what proportion of the cost of the transport schemes (a) A453 widening scheme, (b) M25 junctions 23-27, (c) Manchester Airport link road, second phase, (d) M1/M6 junction 19, (e) A14 Kettering Bypass, (f) A45/A46 Tollbar End, (g) M3 junctions 2-4a, (h) M1 junctions 39-42 and (i) M6 junctions 10a-13 has been contributed by (i) local authorities, (ii) private companies and (iii) central Government;
	(7)  at what stage of construction the transport schemes (a) A453 widening scheme, (b) M25 junctions 23-27, (c) Manchester Airport link road, second phase, (d) M1/M6 junction 19, (e) A14 Kettering Bypass, (f) A45/A46 Tollbar End, (g) M3 junctions 2-4a, (h) M1 junctions 39-42 and (i) M6 junctions 10a-13, announced in the Autumn Statement, have reached; and when he expects each to be completed.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested has been provided in a table titled “Stage of construction and cost information of Highways Agency major schemes” has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Northern Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Northern line extension to Battersea; and how much and what proportion of the funding of the project has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Stephen Hammond: Transport for London submitted a Transport and Works Act Order application to the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), on 30 April seeking planning approval for the proposed Northern line extension to Battersea. This marks the start of the statutory process during which people or organisations can make representations to Government with their views on the proposed scheme.
	Funding for the proposed extension is guaranteed by the UK Guarantee finance package confirmed by the Chancellor in his 2012 autumn statement. The UK Guarantee will allow the Mayor of London to borrow £1 billion at a new preferential rate to support the scheme, subject to the agreement of a binding funding and development agreement with developers, the Mayor of London and partner authorities during 2013. While the borrowing will be done by the public sector, the funding to repay this borrowing will come from the private sector. The Greater London Authority and Transport for London are currently finalising arrangements for the financing of the extension with the developers, central Government and the local authorities.

Railways

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Northern rail connectivity scheme from Liverpool to Newcastle including the Northern Hub; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Network Rail is on schedule to deliver the connectivity improvements contained within Northern Hub in two phases. In December 2016, services between Liverpool and Newcastle will use the Chat Moss route via Manchester Victoria giving substantial journey time reductions. From December 2018 electrification between Manchester and York will be completed giving further journey time savings.

Railways: Electrification

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of rail track will have been electrified by 2015; and what timetable he has set for rail electrification projects.

Simon Burns: The Government have committed to 850 miles of electrification by 2019 and by 2015 expects Network Rail to have made significant progress on the electrification of the Great Western, Trans Pennine, North West England, Cardiff Valley Lines, Midland Main Line and East West Rail routes ready for the phased introduction of electric services by 2019. As a minimum 50 miles will be complete by 2015 which will facilitate new electric services over a much wider part of the network including between Liverpool and Manchester and between Manchester Airport and Scotland. This calculation excludes the test site that will be provided for new IEP trains between Reading and Didcot by 2015.

Railways: North West

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what stage of construction the Ordsall Chord element of the Northern Hub has reached; and how much and what proportion of the funding of the project has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Simon Burns: Network Rail is consulting on the Ordsall Chord prior to submitting an application for planning consent in the summer. Subject to receiving development consents, the scheme is scheduled to be completed by late 2016. The scheme is to be funded through the Government's Rail Investment Strategy.

Railways: Oxfordshire

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the funding for the Oxford to Bicester rail improvement scheme has been contributed by (a) local authorities, (b) private companies and (c) central Government.

Simon Burns: The Oxford to Bicester rail scheme includes a number of elements. Work is under way to integrate the Chiltern Railways Evergreen 3 scope of work for Oxford to Bicester into the wider East West Rail scheme, which extends from Oxford to Bletchley and Bedford. The cost of Chiltern Railways' Evergreen 3 scope of works will be funded by them. The wider Oxford to Bicester works required for the East West Rail Project, including double tracking, are being funded largely by Network Rail and were included in their Strategic Business Plan published in January 2013.
	Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan estimated their contribution to the whole East West Project at £351 million in Control Period 5 (in 2012-13 prices). This excludes Chiltern Railways' contribution for the scope of the Evergreen 3 works. In addition the East West Rail consortium of local authorities along the route has agreed to contribute up to £50 million towards the project.
	A separate breakdown of the detailed cost of the Oxford to Bicester element is not available because it is under development and subject to commercial negotiations.
	The Department for Transport has provided £2.4 million for the delivery of early design and survey work to enable the Evergreen 3 scope to be integrated into the wider East West Rail plans. This work was completed in 2012.

Railways: Oxfordshire

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the construction of the Oxford to Bicester rail improvement scheme.

Simon Burns: Chiltern Railways and Network Rail are working together on the delivery of the Oxford to Bicester route as part of the larger East West Rail Project, which extends from Oxford to Bletchley and Bedford. Recent progress includes the granting of Transport and Works Act 1992 construction powers for the Oxford to Bicester work (appeal currently under way), and design and survey work to integrate Chiitern's Evergreen 3 scheme with the wider East West Rail plans. Major work on the route is anticipated to begin later in 2013.

Railways: Tickets

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on smart rail ticketing in London and the south-east; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: Two train operators in the south-east already have smart ticketing infrastructure in place, and are running small scale pilots with passengers, as a result of obligations contained within their franchise agreements.
	The South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) programme commits £45 million to a wider roll out of smart ticketing on rail in the south-east. My officials have been working with train operators and Transport for London to agree the details of the scheme and how it will work for passengers. There are several technical and commercial issues to be addressed, but good progress has been made, and under current plans smart ticketing should be available to passengers in the south-east before March 2015.

Railways: Tickets

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communications have taken place between his Department and the operators of (a) Thameslink, (b) TransPennine, (c) South Western, (d) Northern, (e) National Express East Anglia and Abellio, (f) C2C (Thameside), (g) First Great Western, (h) Merseyrail, (i) West Coast Main Line, (j) Cross Country, (k) Arriva Trains Wales, (l) Chiltern, (m) Southeastern, (n) Southern, (o) London Midland, (p) East Coast Main Line, (q) London Overground and (r) Scotrail on the closure of station ticket offices in the last 12 months; and on what dates each such communication took place.

Simon Burns: There have been no communications with these operators with the exception of London Midland, where there have been communications in connection with the closure of nine ticket offices, of which five were rejected and four approved by Ministers in September 2012.

Railways: Tickets

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operating companies have been given permission by his Department to close ticket offices since May 2010; and in respect of which stations such permission has been given.

Simon Burns: With the exception of London Midland, no operators have been given permission to close ticket offices since May 2010. Ministers approved the closure of the London Midland ticket offices at Cheddington, Lye, Witton and Wythall in September 2012 as a necessary step in improving the efficiency of the rail network.

Reading Station

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Reading station area redevelopment programme; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: I am pleased with the progress of Reading station redevelopment. Passengers are now using the new concourse and subways while new platforms have been brought into use. Depot and bus station works have been progressing towards completion later in the year. Overall, the Reading project is on course to be finished a year early and under budget. I would like to thank the industry for working together to make this happen.

Roads: Accidents

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of people who were killed or seriously injured in road accidents in 2011 were involved in a collision where at least one driver was aged (a) between 24 and 35, (b) between 35 and 45, (c) between 45 and 55, (d) between 55 and 65 and (e) 65 years and over.

Stephen Hammond: The number and proportion of casualties killed and seriously injured in 2011 in accidents are given in the following table, grouped by the age of at least one of the drivers involved.
	
		
			  Age band of at least one driver in the accident (years) 
			  24 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and over 
			 Fatal casualties      
			 Number of casualties 563 548 537 329 347 
			 Percentage of all casualties 30 29 28 17 18 
			       
			 Seriously injured casualties      
			 Number of casualties 6,544 5,900 5,503 3,450 3,106 
			 Percentage of all casualties 28 26 24 15 13 
			       
			 Fatal or seriously injured casualties      
			 Number of casualties 7,107 6,448 6,040 3,779 3,453 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage of all casualties 28 26 24 15 14 
			 Notes: 1. Casualty figures exclude accidents which involve any combination of only non-motorised vehicles (i.e. pedal cycles, ridden horses or pedestrians) and those where the age of all drivers was unknown. However, proportions are calculated as a proportion of all road casualties. 2. Age bands refer to all ages inclusive of the top and bottom of the band. 3. Some casualties will be counted in more than one age band—e.g. a casualty from an accident involving drivers of different age bands will be counted in all the relevant age band categories. Therefore the proportions sum to more than 100%.

Roads: Lighting

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many street lights, which had been switched off by a local authority, have been turned back on following (a) a coroner's report and (b) resident pressure in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect of turning off street lights on increasing the fear of crime;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of the effects of turning off street lights on the emergency services;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect of streetlights on social activities;
	(5)  whether he has an Invest to Save strategy for street lights;

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on how many street lights switched off by a local authority have been turned back on following (a)a coroner's report or (b) resident pressure.
	It is for each local highway authority responsible for street lighting in their area to decide the level of service they wish their street lighting network to deliver. No assessment has been made by the Department for Transport on the effects of turning off street lights and the fear of crime, on emergency services or on social activities.
	It is important that local authorities consider the safety, cost and environmental savings before switching off lighting columns, reducing the hours of operation or dimming lighting levels within their areas.
	This Government are providing over £3 billion from 2011 to 2015 to highway authorities in England for highways maintenance, including street lighting. If a local highway authority is considering upgrading or improving their street lighting stock, the Department for Transport encourages them to consider the "Invest to Save" Guidance produced by the Association of Directors of Environment, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) which is available from the Institution of Lighting Professionals:
	www.theilp.org.uk

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra financial help his Department is making available to local authorities to help clear potholes.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport announced on 18 December 2012 that it was allocating a further £140 million in 2013-14 and £75 million in 2014-15 to local highway authorities in England, including Transport for London, for highways maintenance which could include repairing pothole damage.
	In addition, and in recognition of the damage caused by the severe winter weather of 2010-11, in March 2011 the Department for Transport allocated an additional £200 million to local authorities in England, including London authorities.
	The Government also recognise the need for improved highways maintenance over the longer-term and has taken action. In April 2011 we announced a £6 million programme for Highways Maintenance Efficiency to look at longer-term maintenance strategies. This programme is providing practical and adaptable efficiency solutions, for authorities to make informed local investment decisions to support their local community and economy. As part of the Programme, an initiative was announced to help assist local authorities deal with potholes on the local highway network. A final report has been and is available for download from the following web address:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/pothole-review/pothole-review.pdf

Speed Limits

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have implemented 20 miles per hour speed limit zones.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not collect information about which local authorities have implemented 20 miles per hour speed limits and zones. Any decision about whether to implement 20 miles per hour speed limits and zones is a matter for local authorities to determine.

Thameslink Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress he has made on the Thameslink rolling stock contract; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: We are working closely with Siemens and Cross London Trains to finalise the contractual documentation, and completing the due diligence checks and governance approvals needed before award of a major contract. We expect to award the contract shortly.

Thameslink Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the upgrade of Thameslink rail to be fully operational.

Simon Burns: We expect to see the full 24 trains per hour service operating on the upgraded infrastructure in December 2018.

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is committed to investing in its staff and ensuring people have the skills they need to perform their job effectively. We actively encourage staff to take five days training a year through initiatives including the Civil Service's Campaign for Learning programme.
	The Department does not centrally record the number of officials who have taken training courses: to provide this information, along with the ten highest training course fees, would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Department spent the following amounts on training in each of the last three years:
	
		
			  Amount spent on training (£) 
			 2009-10 4,475,000 
			 2010-11 6,653,000 
			 2011-12 3,433,400 
		
	
	The information for the previous two years is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.

Transport: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress has been made on his Department's Investment in Local Major Transport schemes package published in January 2012; and what stage of construction each scheme has reached;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of the funding of the local authority major transport schemes (a) Heysham-M6 Link Road, (b) Midland Metro, (c) Manchester Metro Link Phase 3A, (d) Birmingham New Street, (e) Nottingham Express Transit and (f) Tyne and Wear Metro renewal has been contributed by (i) local authorities, (ii) private companies and (iii) central Government;
	(3)  at what stage of construction the local authority major transport schemes (a) Heysham-M6 Link Road, (b) Midland Metro, (c) Manchester Metro Link Phase 3A, (d) Birmingham New Street, (e) Nottingham Express Transit and (f) Tyne and Wear Metro renewal have reached; and when he expects each to be completed.

Norman Baker: Good progress is being made on the programme of major local authority promoted schemes contained in the Investment in Local Major Transport schemes package published in January 2012. The 58 schemes on which decisions were made by this Government are at the following stages:
	three are complete (East of Exeter Improvement, Mansfield Interchange, A164 Humber Bridge to Beverley);
	24 are under construction (Walton Bridge, Reading Station Highway Improvements, Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2, Rochdale Interchange, Midland Metro Birmingham City Centre Extension, Manchester Cross City Bus, White Rose Way Improvement (opening 24 May), Kingskerswell Bypass, A43 Corby Link Road, A57 M1 J31 Todwick Crossroads Improvement, Ipswich Transport Fit for 21st Century, Bath Transportation Package, Portsmouth Northern Road Bridge, Evesham Bridge, Weston Package Phase 1, Portsmouth Tipner Interchange, Worcester Integrated Transport, Camborne-Pool-Redruth Transport Package, Loughborough Town Centre Improvement, London Road Bridge (Derby), Access York Phase 1, Beverley Integrated Transport Plan, Luton Town Centre, and Bexhill Hastings Link Road);
	28 are securing the necessary legal powers or completing procurement following which a bid for final approval will be submitted (Mersey Gateway Bridge, A18-A180 Link, A45 Westbound Bridge, Beadle/Aiskew/Leeming Bar Bypass, Ashton Vale to Temple Meads Bus Rapid Transit, North Fringe to Hengrove Bus Rapid Transit, Chester Road, Coventry-Nuneaton Rail Improvement, Crewe Green Link Road, Croxley Rail Link, Darlaston Access Improvement, Elmbridge Transport, Heysham-M6 Link Road, Hucknall Town Centre Improvement, Leeds Inner Relief Road Maintenance, Leeds New Generation Transport, Leeds Rail Growth, Leeds Station Southern Access, Lincoln Eastern Bypass, Morpeth Northern Bypass, Norwich Northern Distributor Road, Nottingham Ring Road, Pennine Reach, South Yorkshire Bus Rapid Transit North, South Bristol Link, Sunderland Strategic Corridor, Taunton Northern Inner Distribution Route and Thornton to Switch Island);
	one (A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road) has yet to receive initial, Programme Entry, approval;
	one (Sheffield Supertram Additional Vehicles) is being funded through the proposed Tram-Train scheme; and
	the future of the Isles of Scilly Link scheme is still under consideration.
	As regards the specific schemes listed on which the following information was requested:
	(a) what stage of construction the scheme is at
	(b) completion date
	(c) how much and what proportion of the funding of the local authority major transport schemes has been contributed by (i) local authorities, (ii) private companies and (iii) central Government.
	The answers are:
	Heysham-M6 Link Road:
	(a) awaiting completion of remaining statutory procedures
	(b) completion date dependent on outcome of the recent Judicial Review
	(c) ( i) £12.64 million, (ii) £0 million, (iii) £123.569 million
	Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension):
	(a) Under construction
	(b) services on new line scheduled to start in 2015
	(c) (i) £53.2 million, (ii) £0 million, (iii) £75.4 million
	Manchester Metro Link Phase 3A:
	(a) Rochdale and Chorlton extensions both open.
	(b) see above
	(c) (i) £330.7 million, (ii) £0 million, (iii) £244.3 million
	Birmingham New Street:
	(a) Phase 1 completed on 28 April 2013
	(b) Phase 2 scheduled to be completed in 2015.
	(c) (i) £110 million, (ii) £200 million, (iii) £160 million. In addition £128 million is coming from Network Rail
	Nottingham Express Transit
	(a) Under construction
	(b) Services on the new extensions are due to start in late 2014.
	(c) Scheme being procured as a DBFO PFI scheme. The Government is providing funding up to a maximum present value of £371 m towards the total maximum scheme cost of £570m. There is no private funding.
	Tyne and Wear Metro renewal:
	(a) Under construction
	(b) 11 year renewal programme started in 2010
	(c) (i) £35 million, (ii) £0 million, (iii) £350 million.

Transport: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the affordability of transport for people aged 16 to 18 who are (a) apprentices and (b) in full-time education;
	(2)  which (a) transport providers and (b) local authorities are currently providing concessionary fares to 16 to 18 year old (i) apprentices and (ii) full-time students.

Norman Baker: On the national rail network discounted fares for young people are available through the 16-25 Railcard. The card costs £30 for one year or £70 for three years. It saves around one third on a wide range of tickets including all Standard and First Class Advance fares.
	The legislation which regulates the bus industry, and which we inherited in 2010, does not require bus operators to offer reduced fares for young people, including those accessing training or further education. However, in many areas reduced fares are available from bus operators or through local authority concessionary fare schemes. The level of discount and age at which it applies varies from one operator to another, creating a confusing patchwork of fares.
	In 2011/12, 28 out of 89 Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) outside London offered concessions to young people. In addition, bus operators in 80 TCA areas offered their own commercial discounts. That notwithstanding, I am working with the bus industry and others to see how the offer to young people might be improved.
	Statistics on the provision of youth discounts can be found in National Statistics Table BUS0842 at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus08-concessionary-travel

Transport: Young People

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress he has made on delivering discounted travel to all persons aged 18 years and under.

Norman Baker: Affordable and accessible transport is important for enabling young people to make progress in education, training and employment. I have challenged the bus industry to improve their offer to young people, and I am pleased that progress is already being made.
	Over 90% of the bus industry is now represented on the BUSFORUS web portal, and upcoming developments will bring together fares information with real-time data, providing a significant step-change in the accessibility of travel information aimed at young people.
	By working in partnership local authorities and bus operators hold the key to unlock access to local transport for young people, and I remain committed to working with the industry to improve things further.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Norman Baker: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, between 2009-10 and 2012-13, total expenditure on travel and subsistence for the central Department has fallen by 16%.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of his Department’s counter-fraud activities.

Mark Hoban: At a cost of £5.8 billion a year, benefit and tax credit fraud and error is still too high.
	This is why we are piloting a Single Fraud Investigation Service to bring together the expertise of fraud agencies across Government.
	We have introduced tougher punishments for benefit fraud, including a minimum penalty of £350, and loss of benefit for up to three years for those convicted by the courts.

Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) his Department or (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible or any of its agencies and (c) his Department's Executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.

Mark Hoban: The Department does not use Atos or any other company to deliver counter-fraud activities on our behalf. We do, however, use two other companies to help us to deliver some fraud-related services. We recently completed a data matching pilot which used information provided by Experian to help us identify potentially fraudulent cases, and we also work with Equifax to obtain financial information to assist departmental fraud investigators in their work.
	Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award:
	www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
	In addition, Departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000.

Separated Parents

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help separated parents work together in the best interests of their children.

Steve Webb: I have today announced next steps in reforming the child maintenance system in a way that incentivises separated parents to collaborate in the interests of their children.
	This is supported by up to £20 million of investment in the Help and Support for Separated Families initiative. So far, we have awarded £6.5 million to seven organisations, to provide 280,000 families with assistance, which we will carefully evaluate.

Personal Independence Payment

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implementation of the personal independence payment to date.

Esther McVey: Personal independence payment successfully went live in the controlled start area, supported by a brand new IT and delivery system, on 8 April.
	This has been one of the biggest, most challenging and significant reforms of the welfare system to date. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those people who have been involved in helping us get to where we are now, including both staff and stakeholders such as user-led organisations.

State Pension

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which groups will benefit from the reforms to the state pension planned for 2016.

Steve Webb: All pensioners retiring under the single tier will benefit from greater certainty of income in retirement under single tier, providing a firm foundation to support people in saving for retirement.
	The single-tier pension will be fairer for women, especially those that have spent time in low-paying jobs or caring for others in the past.
	Self-employed people will also be brought fully into the state pension.

Universal Credit Pathfinder

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the introduction of the universal credit pathfinder.

Mark Hoban: It is too early to make a formal assessment of universal credit yet.

Child Maintenance

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 7 March 2013, Official Report, column 198W on children: maintenance, what plans he has to ensure that parents with care who benefit from active arrears collection arrangements and who do not have a Child Support Agency (CSA) case with a current liability will continue to receive the child maintenance arrears they are legally owed once their CSA case is closed.

Steve Webb: It is the intention that parents with care who do not have a current CSA child maintenance liability, but benefit from arrears collection, will continue to have those arrears collected where their case details are transferred to the new child maintenance system.

Child Maintenance

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Child Support Agency (CSA) assessed cases with a positive liability, excluding maintenance direct cases, have been fully compliant with the payments required to be made under the Child Support Act 1991 in each of the last four quarters; and how many such cases are (a) fully compliant without deductions being made from a paying parent's earnings or benefits and (b) fully compliant where the CSA is making deductions from earnings or benefits.

Steve Webb: The following table shows over the last four quarters the number of CSA cases where maintenance has been paid in full, split by whether payment is being made by a deduction from earnings or deduction from benefits and the number of cases where the method of collection is not a deduction from earnings or deduction from benefit eg standing order, direct debit.
	Figures are based on the method of collection at the end of each quarter.
	
		
			     Of which: 
			 Quarter ending: Number of cases where maintenance is due (excluding Maintenance Direct cases) Number of cases paying in full (excluding Maintenance Direct cases) Percentage of cases paying in full Number of cases where method of collection is deduction from benefit or deduction from earnings Number of cases where method of collection is not deduction from benefit or deduction from earnings 
			 June 2012 681,900 339,700 50 167,500 172,200 
			 September 2012 689,100 337,300 49 162,200 175,100 
			 December 2012 696,300 329,200 47 154,700 174,500 
			 March 2013 691,800 342,100 49 170,600 171,500 
		
	
	Cases are classed as having maintenance due if an ongoing liability to pay maintenance exists, or if arrears of maintenance exist and payment has been requested.
	Method of collection is not available for off system cases, figures have therefore been increased proportionately to account for off system performance so the totals shown are representative of our case load as a whole.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Mark Hoban: I can confirm that there are no people employed by the Department for Work and Pensions on a zero-hour contract.

Fuel Poverty

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made on reducing fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	This Government are strongly committed to helping households, especially low income and vulnerable households, heat their homes at an affordable cost.
	On 16 May 2013, the latest official statistics were published. They show that the number of households in fuel poverty in 2011 was lower than in 2010, as measured under both the 10% indicator and the low income high costs (LIHC) indicator proposed by Professor John Hills in his independent review of fuel poverty. The statistics also reveal an increase in the fuel poverty gap in 2011 compared to 2010. The full statistics are available at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-poverty-report-annual-report-on-statistics-2013

Housing Benefit

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of eviction on the (a) education and (b) emotional stability of children.

Steve Webb: No such assessment has been made.
	The Government do not expect an increase in evictions. In respect of universal credit, the Department published on 11 February 2013 guidance on personal budgeting support for claimants and those who may provide advice to them.

Housing Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision is made in housing benefit regulations to cover the situation in which a household member is absent for part of the year in residence at an educational institution.

Steve Webb: Details can be found in:
	The Housing Benefit Decision Maker's Guide,
	Chapter A3, paragraphs 3.370 to 3.372:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-a3-liability-to-make-payments.pdf
	Chapter A5, paragraph 5.504:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-a5-calculating-benefit.pdf
	Chapter C1, paragraph 1.140:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/hbgm-c1-aggregation-of-needs.pdf

New Enterprise Allowance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made on the introduction of the new enterprise allowance in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire.

Mark Hoban: From January 2011 up to and including November 2012 there have been 27,160 starts with a new enterprise allowance (NEA) business mentor and 13,150 starts to the weekly allowance in England. These figures are based upon official Get Britain Working statistics available via the DWP website:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_feb13.pdf
	We have not published data at county level but have published data on the number of NEA mentor starts and weekly allowance starts by local authority, Jobcentre Plus district and parliamentary constituency. This can be found at:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2013/nea_by_la_jcp_district_parl_c.xls
	Note:
	The numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Social Security Benefits

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the introduction of the benefit cap.

Mark Hoban: The benefit cap was successfully implemented in four London boroughs on 15 April.
	Households are now being capped and support continues to be provided to help claimants adjust their circumstances.

Social Security Benefits

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of sanctions that have been placed on (a) employment and support allowance and (b) jobseeker's allowance claimants as a result of a missed appointment or the claimant failing to follow-up written correspondence.

Mark Hoban: The information requested on claimants who fail to follow-up on written correspondence is not recorded as a reason for sanction and is therefore not available.
	In response to part (a);
	The information requested on the number of sanctions that have been placed on employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants for failure to attend is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
	In response to part (b);
	The latest statistics on the number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanction and disallowance referrals, where a decision has been made, by reason for referral, including “Failure to attend advisory interview (post April 2010)” and “Failure to attend place on training scheme/emp prog”, can be found at:
	http://83.244.183.180/sanction/sanction/LIVE/dec_fix_dec/q_2gp/dct_gp/a_stock_r_q_2gp_c_dct_gp_oct12.html

Social Security Benefits

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from (a) employment and support allowance and (b) jobseeker's allowance claimants who have not attended meetings relating to their claim or failed to take required actions because they did not receive a letter notifying them of these.

Mark Hoban: The DWP does not hold a record of the information requested. The information requested on claimants who fail to take required actions due to them not receiving an appropriate letter by the Department is not recorded as a complaint reason and is therefore not available.

Sodium Valproate

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the benefits system of the effects of sodium valproate on (a) the women who took it during their pregnancy and (b) their children.

Mark Hoban: Although we record the conditions of people claiming disability benefits and other benefits relating to their condition, we do not record the specific causes of their condition ie disability due to mother taking prescribed drugs during pregnancy which caused birth defects.

State Retirement Pensions

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in receipt of the state pension who contracted out of additional elements are now worse off than they would have been had they not done so.

Steve Webb: The information is not held and no reliable estimates could be obtained.

State Retirement Pensions

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish an updated version of his Department's paper, “State Pension entitlements derived from a current or former spouse's or civil partner's national insurance contributions” to take into account the changed introduction date of the single-tier state pension.

Steve Webb: The Department has no plans to update this document. This is because the principles and mechanics of this aspect of the single-tier reforms have remained unchanged following the announcement that the single-tier pension will be implemented in 2016. Reference to the implementation date should be understood as ‘April 2016’, and not ‘April 2017 at the earliest’. This is made clear on the Gov.uk website.
	The assertion that approximately 8,000 women will benefit from the reduced rate election transitional protection measures would not change substantially with a 2016 start date.

State Retirement Pensions

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women nearing state pension age who will be financially disadvantaged by the introduction of the single-tier state pension as a result of an expectation of being able to rely on their husband's contributions to provide entitlement to a basic state pension.

Steve Webb: Estimates of the impact on women of the ending of derived entitlement to basic state pension based on a partner's national insurance contribution record are presented in section 3.2 of the recent update to the impact assessment of “The single-tier pension: a simple foundation for saving”. This is available at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/197841/single-tier-ia-april-2013.pdf

Statistics

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions his Department has been rebuked by the chair of the UK Statistics Authority for misusing statistics since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: Correspondence between the UK Statistics Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions is published on the authority's website:
	http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports---correspondence/correspondence

Statistics

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the letter sent to him from the chair of the UK Statistics Authority, dated 9 May 2013, whether he plans any changes to his Department's procedures in response.

Mark Hoban: DWPs permanent secretary wrote to the UK Statistics Authority on 14 May 2013, addressing the issues raised in Mr Dilnot's letter of 9 May 2013. This correspondence is available on the Authority's website:
	http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports---correspondence/correspondence

Unemployment: Young People

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the International Labour Organization report published on 8 May 2013 on the societal implications of the failure to increase work opportunities for young people.

Mark Hoban: The International Labour Organization (ILO) makes a valuable contribution to sharing information and best practice from around the world and we welcome its report, “Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013”. We will consider the report and will continue to engage with the ILO on employment issues, including at the forthcoming G20 Labour and Employment Ministers meeting.
	There are no specific references to the UK in the report; however, the labour market for young people in the UK is showing signs of improvement. The ILO measure of 16-24 unemployment is down 57,000 over the past year, and the number of young people claiming jobseeker’s allowance has fallen for the eleventh consecutive month.

Universal Credit

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to recognise the situation of self-employed people and the unpredictable flow of income such people may receive in designing the universal credit system.

Mark Hoban: Self-employed earnings will be reported on a simplified “cash accounting” basis which asks for the total income from receipts into the business and details of payments out of the business under defined categories. The requirements have been designed to be as simple as possible and to align, where possible, with HMRC's new cash basis and simplified expenses system, in order for claimants to easily report their earnings.
	We are aware that self-employed earnings often fluctuate from month to month. We are therefore looking at the feasibility of introducing a mechanism for carrying forward profits and losses in universal credit.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many universal credit staff ambassadors are working with Ashton-under-Lyne Jobcentre Plus to assist with the introduction of universal credit.

Mark Hoban: The role of the universal credit ambassador is to cascade key messages, help staff at a local level to understand what universal credit means to them and why we need to think and act differently to deliver it successfully, and to promote a new culture where we expect more from our claimants.
	We have one universal credit ambassador in Ashton-under-Lyne with this person being part of a wider local support team.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on external consultants for the universal credit project, in addition to spending on the universal credit IT system, since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The total cost of the consultants employed on the universal credit programme in each of the last three years is as follows: £5.6 million in 2011-12 and £3.2 million in 2012-13.
	There was no consultancy expenditure in 2010-11 recorded against the universal credit programme.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which external consultants have worked on the universal credit project, other than on the universal credit IT system, since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: The following consultancy firms have worked on the universal credit project:
	Bramble Ltd
	Capgemini UK plc
	CESG
	Compass Management Consulting
	Deloitte LLP
	Ernst and Young
	Emergn Ltd
	Evolve Business Consultancy Limited
	IBM United Kingdom Ltd
	Mckinsey and Company Inc.
	Notum Associates Ltd
	Xantus Consulting.

Winter Fuel Payments: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are in receipt of winter fuel allowance in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland.

Steve Webb: This is a matter for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Work Programme

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of payments by results in the context of the Work programme; and whether it will continue.

Mark Hoban: It is too soon to judge the Work programme payment by results model; however, it is already clear that the Work programme is helping people off benefit and into employment. We will be publishing further data on Work programme outcomes on June 27 2013.
	The Department remains committed to payment by results and to the Work programme.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited four hours or more in accident and emergency departments in (a) each London hospital trust and (b) all such trusts in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: Officials are currently collating the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member with the information when it is available and place a copy in the Library.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Bassetlaw constituency have had to wait more than four hours before being treated at an accident and emergency facility in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: The information is not held in the format requested. For the week ending 5 May 2013, data published by NHS England shows that 184 patients waited longer than four hours for admission following a decision to admit at the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
	Note:
	Data showing how many patients waited longer than four hours before being treated at an accident and emergency facility is not available at constituency level.
	Source:
	NHS England statistics, accident and emergency waiting times and activity.

Broadmoor Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether the number of beds proposed under the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital is consistent with (a) reductions in the length of stay in high secure hospitals over the last 10 years and (b) the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention programme;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to evaluate alternative proposals to the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital to meet future needs of the High Secure Service.

Norman Lamb: National health service commissioners undertook a capacity review in 2009. Since then the Offender Personality Disorder Strategy has been implemented, reconfiguring services so that increased numbers of high harm offenders with personality disorder are treated within the prison system.
	This year NHS England is required by The High Security Psychiatric Services (National Health Service Commissioning Board) Directions 2013 to undertake an assessment of the needs of the people of England for high secure psychiatric services and the availability of services to meet those needs.
	The Capacity Review undertaken in 2009 considered a number of factors including length of stay. The National High Secure Services Strategic Commissioning Plan (2010 to 2015) set out how high secure services, including the proposed redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital, would contribute to the NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention programme by improving quality and achieving sustainable efficiency.
	NHS England has responsibility for arranging the provision of high security psychiatric services in England. It will evaluate alternative proposals to meet future needs as part of that responsibility.

Broadmoor Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the reasons are for the length of time taken to develop the business case for the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital;
	(2)  on what date the process to develop a business case for the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital began;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the business case for the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital.
	(4)  what the reasons are for the length of time it has taken to develop a business case for the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital.

Norman Lamb: The redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital has followed the Department’s process for the development and approval of major capital build schemes of this size and complexity to ensure it demonstrates affordability and has commissioner support in order to deliver care in a modern, safe and secure environment for patients and staff.
	West London Mental Health National Health Service Trust began work developing the strategic outline case for the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital in 2004.
	The strategic outline case was approved by London strategic health authority in November 2005.
	While the trust was developing the business case, work was undertaken to agree the size of high secure hospital sector and commissioned bed numbers, and to confirm service requirements at Broadmoor.
	As a result, the trust submitted the outline business case (OBC) to the Department in 2010. Due to a number of site-specific issues around ecology and the listed buildings, the trust was required to apply for full planning permission before OBC approval could be given. This required the trust to undertake further detailed work, which resulted in full planning permission being given in March 2012. Following this, the OBC was approved by the Department and HM Treasury in June 2012.
	The full business case for the £286 million redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital was approved by NHS London strategic health authority in January 2013 and is currently being reviewed by the Department to assess the scheme’s affordability to the trust, and it will need approval by HM Treasury before a final approval decision can be made. The Department would expect to be able to make an approval decision shortly.

Broadmoor Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether the number of beds proposed under the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital is consistent with (a) reductions in lengths of stay in high secure hospitals over the last 10 years and (b) the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Agenda.

Anna Soubry: National health service commissioners undertook a capacity review of the high secure estate, Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton hospitals, in 2009. Since then the Offender Personality Disorder Strategy has been implemented, reconfiguring services so that increased numbers of high harm offenders with personality disorder are treated within the prison system.
	This year NHS England is required by the High Security Psychiatric Services (National Health Service Commissioning Board) Directions 2013 to undertake an assessment of the needs of the people of England for high secure psychiatric services and the availability of services to meet those needs.
	The capacity review considered a number of factors including length of stay. The National High Secure Services Strategic Commissioning Plan (2010-15), published in 2011, set out how high secure services, including the proposed redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital, would contribute to the NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) programme by improving quality and achieving sustainable efficiency.

Broadmoor Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to evaluate alternative proposals to the redevelopment of Broadmoor hospital to meet the need for a highly secure service.

Anna Soubry: NHS England has responsibility for arranging the provision of high security psychiatric services in England. It will evaluate alternative ways to meet future needs as part of that responsibility.

Cancer

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people accessing specialised cancer services have a positive experience of care.

Anna Soubry: The mandate requires NHS England to deliver continued improvements in relation to patients' experience of care, including specialised cancer care.
	The national report and 160 trust level reports from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2011-12, published in August 2012, continue to support both commissioners and providers to drive and inform local service improvement. The trust level reports provide benchmarked data both nationally and between teams. This supports providers to identify priority improvement areas and enables clinical commissioning groups to better commission high quality cancer services for local populations.
	Work on the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2012-13 is currently under way. It is anticipated that national and trust level reports will be published in summer 2013.
	More generally, NHS Improving Quality (NHS IQ), the new NHS Improvement body, has made
	“ensuring that experience of care is central to commissioning and care delivery”
	one of its 10 key work programmes for 2013-14. NHS IQ will be working on the design and testing of an improvement framework for engaging, involving and improving experience of care; a capability building programme for commissioners and providers; and specific interventions to improve experience, such as the NHS Friends and Family Test, where, since April 2013, patients are being asked whether they would recommend hospital wards and accident and emergency departments to their friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether financial incentives will be attached to the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcome Indicator Set to reward the high quality commissioning of services.

Anna Soubry: The Quality Premium will be paid to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in 2014-15 (to reflect the quality of the services commissioned by them in 2013-14) and will be based on four national measures and the three local measures (that are agreed between CCGs and their local Health and Wellbeing Board).
	The four national measures are based on indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework, which are also included in the CCG Outcomes Indicator set. CCGs, should they wish, may also choose to select their three local quality premium measures from the Outcomes Indicator set. For each of these measures (national and local) where the identified quality threshold is achieved the CCG will be eligible for the indicated percentage of the overall funding.
	However, the primary purpose of the CCG Outcomes Indicator Set is to provide CCGs and Health and Wellbeing Boards with clear comparative information about the quality of health services commissioned, and as far as possible the associated health outcomes.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will incentivise clinical commissioning groups to work in collaboration with cancer strategic clinical networks.

Anna Soubry: Strategic clinical networks (SCNs), including cancer SCNs, hosted and funded by NHS England, will help local commissioners of national health service care to reduce unwarranted variation in services and encourage innovation.
	Active involvement and engagement in the SCNs by NHS commissioners will not be mandated; however, it is expected that commissioners will want to actively engage in SCNs to enable them to provide assurance that they are fulfilling their core purpose of quality improvement. Where commissioners are not actively engaged and as a consequence are not achieving the improvements required, there will be an opportunity for the SCN support team to raise concerns through its responsible area team medical director.
	By clinical commissioning groups and SCNs working together across all domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework, and using evidence-based improvement tools, it is expected that we will continue to see improvements in cancer care and outcomes.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's travel and expenses policy does not explicitly cover claims for evening dress allowances. Consequently, the Department does not hold records of claims made for evening dress allowances.
	The six non-departmental public bodies that were in existence at 31 March 2013 have informed us that no official has made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five financial, years.

Defibrillators

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research on the effectiveness of investment made in the availability of defibrillators in (a) Vancouver, (b) Stavanger and (c) other cities and states that have invested heavily in defibrillators in order to assess the case for greater investment in defibrillators in England.

Anna Soubry: The Department has no plans to commission research on the effectiveness of investment made in the availability of defibrillators in (a) Vancouver, (b) Stavanger and (c) other cities and states that have invested heavily in defibrillators in order to assess the case for greater investment in defibrillators in England.
	More generally, ambulance trusts have had responsibility for sustaining the legacy of the National Defibrillator Programme since February 2007. They are best placed to understand the requirements for their local populations.
	As set out in the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, NHS England will work with the Resuscitation Council, the British Heart Foundation and others to promote the site mapping and registration of defibrillators and to look at ways of increasing the numbers trained in using defibrillators.

Dental Services

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that those needing NHS dentistry do not resort to home remedies.

Daniel Poulter: There should be no need for anyone to resort to home remedies for dental problems rather than seeking national health service care. NHS England has a legal duty to commission dental services to meet local need. Anyone seeking urgent care who cannot find an NHS dentist should contact the relevant NHS local area team. The new NHS 111 service is also able to signpost patients to urgent dental services.
	As well as ensuring those who need it can get urgent care, the Government are committed to ensuring those who seek it can access regular dental care. More than 29.8 million people were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 month period ending 31 March 2013. Over a million and a quarter more people have been seen by an NHS dentist since May 2010, and the latest information published on 16 May 2013 shows a further rise. The Government are committed to increasing access to NHS dentistry and recently invested an additional £30 million of in-year funding in order to achieve this.

Dental Services

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating patients who have complications arising from dentistry home remedies.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold this information.

Dermatology

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to Baroness Masham of Ilton of 10 April 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column 291W, if he will request NHS England to designate a named individual in the Medical Directorate to have a specific remit for dermatology.

Norman Lamb: We understand from NHS England that there are no plans to introduce a national clinical director for dermatology. However, we are informed that they are continuing to discuss with the British Association for Dermatology the best ways to improve outcomes for patients with skin conditions.
	As stated in the response to Baroness Masham of Ilton on 10 April 2013, NHS England is accountable for improving outcomes for patients across all five domains outlined in the NHS Outcomes Framework. The Mandate for NHS England sets out the improvements in health and health care outcomes that the national health service is expected to deliver. It is for NHS England to decide how they achieve the objectives set out in the Mandate.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to clinical commissioning groups for diabetes screening for GPs.

Anna Soubry: The Department has not issued any guidance to clinical commissioning groups on diabetes screening for general practitioners. However, diabetes is included in the “Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy”, which reiterates our commitment to the NHS Health Check programme.
	Local authorities have been delivering the NHS Health Check programme since April 2013, and NHS England has an objective in the mandate to work with Public Health England to support local government in this work.
	The NHS Health Check is aimed at everyone aged between 40 and 74 years of age and assesses an individual's risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease and supports them to reduce their risk through individually tailored advice. Preventing diabetes is a key element of the programme and a systematic way of tackling diabetes prevention is one of its key drivers.
	The programme has a strong evidence base and could prevent 4,000 people a year from developing type 2 diabetes and detect at least 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease earlier, allowing for the better management of a patient's condition and quality of life in the long-term.
	The NHS Health Check programme is a clear priority for both NHS England and NHS Improving Quality, whose role it is to drive the implementation of the NHS Operating Framework through effective improvement programmes.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue quality and outcome framework targets to GPs for diabetes screening.

Anna Soubry: The national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) is a voluntary incentive scheme that provides additional reward to general practitioner (GP) practices for how well they care for patients based on performance against a number of agreed indicators.
	Since 2004, GPs have been paid incentives for providing the nine basic checks on people with diabetes. Performance and patient care has improved considerably as a result of this.
	The latest list of indicators is available here:
	http://www.nhsemployers.org/Aboutus/Publications/Documents/gof-2013-14.pdf

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to his Department of rebranding NHS Diabetes to NHS Improving Quality.

Anna Soubry: NHS Diabetes was a time-limited programme which closed in March 2013 as planned.
	NHS Improving Quality is a new joint venture between NHS England and the Department and is hosted by NHS England. NHS Improving Quality brings together the legacy work of several improvement teams of which NHS Diabetes was one.
	NHS England advises that no NHS Diabetes work or materials have been rebranded and existing materials will be used with the old branding until stock runs out. NHS England also advises that new branding has been developed for NHS Improving Quality and that this work was carried out in-house with an estimated development cost of £235.

Diabetes

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the treatment of diabetes in (a) Hounslow, (b) London and (c) England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13.

Anna Soubry: Programme budgeting data provide an estimate of national health service expenditure on diabetes. The programme budgeting data collection requires primary care trusts (PCTs) to analyse their expenditure by specific health care conditions. Diabetes is treated within the programme budgeting framework as a sub-category within the main category ‘Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Problems’.
	The programme budgeting data collection is complex, therefore when considering the information relating to the treatment of diabetes it is important to note that figures are best estimates rather than precise measurements. Due to the following complexities, not all expenditure on the treatment of diabetes will have been captured in the diabetes category:
	Some primary care activity cannot be reasonably estimated at disease specific level so primary care expenditure is separately identified as a sub-category of 'other' expenditure, programme category 23A. Therefore, the diabetes expenditure total will not include all expenditure relating to diabetes in primary care.
	Expenditure is allocated to programme budgeting categories, based on the primary health care condition of the patient. Therefore, the diabetes expenditure total will not include expenditure on patients with diabetes who have other conditions which were identified as the primary reason for treatment.
	When it is not possible to reasonably estimate a programme budget category, expenditure is classified as 'Other—Miscellaneous', so some expenditure on patients with diabetes may be included in the 'Other—Miscellaneous' sub-category. The allocation of expenditure to programme budgeting sub-categories is not always straight forward, and some expenditure on patients with diabetes may be included within the 'Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Problems—Other' sub-category.
	The following table includes estimated expenditure on diabetes for Hounslow, London and England for the years 2009-10 to 2011-12. Programme budgeting data for 2012-13 has not yet been collected.
	Programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific service areas between years. In order to improve the quality of the data, the calculation methodology is continually refined, as are the underlying data sources which support programme budgeting.
	
		
			 Estimated expenditure on diabetes 
			 £000 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Hounslow(1) 4,280 5,881 6,686 
			 London(2) 192,628 247,004 258,595 
			 England(3) 1,271,069 1,462,468 1,545,739 
			 (1) Figures for Hounslow are based on the Hounslow PCT return. (2 )Figures for London are based the total estimated expenditure of all PCTs within NHS London Strategic Health Authority for this sub-category. (3) Figures for England are based on the aggregate of all PCT estimated expenditure for this sub-category. Source: Annual PCT programme budgeting returns.

Diabetes

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who have been diagnosed with diabetes in (i) Hounslow, (ii) London and (iii) England.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold the information as requested.
	We are able to provide the number of diabetes patients by gender registered in Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT), in London Strategic Health Authority (SHA), and nationally, according to the 2011-12 National Diabetes Audit (NDA).
	The following table details registrations by gender for patients with all types of diabetes from the 2010-11 audit period.
	
		
			 Number 
			  Men Women Total (including unknown sex) 
			 Hounslow PCT 7,344 5,811 13,155 
			 London SHA 171,978 142,424 314,404 
			 England 1,190,661 959,946 2,150,634 
		
	
	The NDA records diabetes registrations in primary and secondary care but participation is not mandatory.
	The NDA 2010-11 comprised data from 6,774 of the more than 8,150 general practitioner practices in England.

Eating Disorders: Young People

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote positive body image amongst young people.

Norman Lamb: We recognise that poor body image is a common problem not only for young people but, according to the findings of the all-party group on body image, more than half of the population. It is a factor in eating disorders and other mental health problems.
	Half of all people with lifelong mental health problems, not including dementia, develop them by the time they are fourteen, and early intervention is necessary to prevent the mental health problems of young people from becoming lifelong problems. That is why the Department is funding the Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies project, which is transforming Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services providing training for staff in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved best evidence-based therapies and embedding intensive, session by session outcome monitoring to make sure children and young people have improved access to the best possible psychological therapies in a way they find acceptable and relevant.
	In year one, 2011-12, the therapies offered were cognitive behavioural therapy and parenting programmes for three to 10-year-olds. In 2012-13 two further therapies were added, systemic family therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. Together these will help support children, young people and their families and address some of the major mental health problems of adolescence, including eating disorders.
	We are also developing a suite of interactive e-learning programmes to extend the skills and knowledge of all staff working with children and young people, including health professionals, teachers, social workers and others to help them understand and recognise emotional and mental health problems and offer early and effective interventions. These interventions in support of children's mental health will, of course, help support the valuable work of the Body Image Campaign led by the Government Equalities Office and the Department of Culture Media and Sport.

General Practitioners: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions GP out-of-hours services in Bassetlaw constituency had fewer than the contracted number of GPs available in each month of (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 to date.

Anna Soubry: This information is not collected centrally.

Health Education

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on public awareness campaigns directed at (a) smoking, (b) alcohol, (c) obesity and (d) drugs in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The Department of Health's spend on public awareness campaigns directed at (a) smoking, (b) alcohol, (c) obesity and (d) drugs in each of the last five years is outlined in the following table:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13(1) 
			 Smoking 23.38 24.91 0.46 3.16 8.21 
			 Alcohol 4.77 4.65 0 0.98 1.84 
			 Obesity 7.69 16.16 1.32 2.07 3.56 
			 Drugs 1.45 1.66 0 0 0 
			 (1) Spend from 2012-13 is provisional, as figures have not yet been audited. 
		
	
	The drug spend is the Department's contribution to a joint campaign with the Home Office.
	The FRANK drug campaign and service was launched in May 2003, providing young people and their families with advice and information about all drugs. Historically, FRANK has been managed jointly by the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Department for Education.
	Currently, the Home Office fund advertising and marketing interventions to raise awareness of the FRANK service. The Department of Health funds and manage the FRANK service which comprises the helpline, email, SMS, live chat and website. Responsibility for the FRANK service moved from the Department to Public Health England on 1 April 2013.
	This amends the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield North (Nick de Bois) on 18 January 2013, Official Record, columns 942-3W.

Health Education

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on public awareness campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much it intends to spend on public awareness campaigns in the current year.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's spend on public awareness campaigns in each of the last five years is outlined in the following table.
	
		
			  Overall media spend (£ million) 
			 2008-09 53.16 
			 2009-10 79.80 
			 2010-11 4.66 
			 2011-12 12.40 
			 2012-13(1) 25.06 
			 (1) Spend from 2012-13 is provisional, as figures are not fully reconciled. 
		
	
	On 1 April 2013, responsibility for public awareness campaigns transferred to Public Health England.
	The total budget allocation for all marketing in 2013-14 is £54.7 million (subject to the usual caveats). Budget profiles are being finalised, and so projected spend on public awareness campaigns is not currently available. Further detail on this is available in the PHE Marketing Plan:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-england-marketing-plan-2013-14
	The Department has no plans to spend on public awareness campaigns in 2013-14.

Health Education: Drugs

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase public awareness of the dangers of new psychoactive substances.

Anna Soubry: The FRANK drug information campaign provides young people and their families with advice and information about all drugs, including new psychoactive substances. The campaign is managed jointly by the Department of Health and the. Home Office. We continually review the FRANK service to ensure that it provides effective and up to date information.
	The Home Office funds advertising to raise awareness of the FRANK service. The Department has funded and managed the FRANK service which comprises the helpline, e-mail, SMS, live chat and website and on 1 April this responsibility passed to Public Health England.

Health Services: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met (a) the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) any other Scottish Government Minister; and what was discussed at any such meeting.

Norman Lamb: The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), spoke to the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in October 2012, to update him on the Mental Health (Approval Functions) Bill. Ministers and officials in the Department work closely with their counterparts in the Scottish Government on various topics of mutual interest.

Health: Finance

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to reduce any inequality in the public health funding settlement for 2014-15;
	(2)  what calculations his Department used to calculate the regional public health funding settlement for 2014-15.

Anna Soubry: The allocation of the public health grant is based on a formula developed by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), an independent committee of general practitioners, public health experts, national health service managers and academics. Allocations informed by the formula have been made for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
	The formula is designed to enable action to improve population wide health and reduce health inequalities. Full details of ACRA's methodology have been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled (a) by each London hospital trust and (b) in total in London in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
	Tables containing quarterly information held by the Department for each London hospital trust for 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 (three quarters) have been placed in the Library.
	On 1 April 2013, responsibility for publishing this information transferred to NHS England.

Human Papillomavirus: Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on when all women in (a) Mid Sussex and (b) West Sussex attending for their cervical screen will be tested for HPV as a triage and test-of-cure;
	(2)  when he envisages that women in (a) Mid Sussex and (b) West Sussex will benefit from HPV testing as a primary screen.

Anna Soubry: NHS Cancer Screening Programmes gave approval for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing to begin across Sussex and East Surrey (which covers Mid and West Sussex) in early July 2012, and testing commenced on 25 July 2012. In year one of implementation, HPV testing for triage was done on the first occurrence of low grade abnormalities in eligible women routinely invited for screening (women aged 25 to 64), along with HPV test-of-cure for newly treated women with normal or low grade abnormalities six months after treatment. In year two, from July 2013, HPV testing as triage will be extended to all women with low grade abnormalities, and HPV test-of-cure extended to all women treated for abnormalities who have normal or low grade abnormalities six months after treatment.
	The pilot of HPV testing as primary screening began in May 2013 at two of the six pilot sites. None of the six pilot sites covers the Mid and West Sussex areas. The pilot will be formally evaluated and, based on the results of the evaluation, HPV testing as primary screening will be rolled out across England. Timetables for this roll-out will be determined once we have the results of the evaluation.

Mental Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to proposals on how innovative approaches to the secure mental health pathway will affect future demand for bed capacity within that sector;
	(2)  what proposals he has considered in respect of how innovative approaches to the secure mental health pathway could affect future demand for bed capacity within this sector.

Anna Soubry: In April 2011, the Centre for Mental Health published pathways to unlocking secure mental health care. This report examined how pathways into and through secure mental health services could be improved to ensure patients are treated in the most appropriate setting.
	NHS England is now responsible for commissioning services for the secure services pathway. It will evaluate innovative approaches to meet future needs as part of that responsibility.

Mental Illness: Debts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce psychological damage caused by high levels of household debt;
	(2)  if he will meet representatives of the StepChange Debt Charity to discuss its recent investigation into psychological damage caused by high levels of household debt.

Norman Lamb: We know that debt can be associated with, and even cause, mental health problems. The mental health strategy, ‘No Health Without Mental Health’, has several aims, one of which is to improve quality of services and make the most of the resources that we have. In pursuit of this aim, the Strategy recommends broadening the approach taken to mental health in order to tackle the wider social determinants and consequences of mental health problems. The Strategy suggests that this could include face-to-face debt advice, which we know can be cost-effective within five years. The initial cost of debt advice can be offset by savings to the national health service, which include legal aid and gains in terms of employment productivity, even before taking into account the costs saved by creditors.
	I would be pleased to meet with StepChange Debt Charity to discuss the important work they have recently carried out on reducing the mental ill health caused by the pressure and stress related to debt.

Museum of Liverpool Life

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to support the work of the Museum of Liverpool's House of Memories project.

Norman Lamb: The Department fully supports National Museums Liverpool's House of Memories programme and provided funding for the initiative in 2011-12 and 2012-13, as part of its wider work to implement the commitments on education and training set out in the National Dementia Strategy and the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.

NHS 111

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what NHS England’s role in oversight of the 111 service is; who the senior responsible owner of the 111 service is; and who the accounting officer is for all money spent on the 111 service to date.

Anna Soubry: NHS England’s role in oversight of NHS 111 is threefold: to support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in their local implementation of the NHS 111 service; through its area teams, to work with CCGs to help stabilise performance in any site not meeting the necessary standards; and to manage national functions of NHS 111, such as the telephony infrastructure. The board of NHS England is accountable, through the chief operating officer, for the oversight of these functions. Dame Barbara Hakin has been the chief operating officer since 19 April 2013.
	On 1 April 2013 responsibility for commissioning NHS 111 transferred to CCGs. As such, individual CCGs are accountable for commissioning local services and money spent, including for NHS 111.
	As chief executive of NHS England, Sir David Nicholson is the accounting officer for all NHS England and CCG spend.

NHS: Internet

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department launched the new website for NHS Improving Quality; and how many hits it has received since its launch.

Anna Soubry: NHS Improving Quality is a joint venture between NHS England and the Department of Health and is hosted by NHS England.
	NHS England advises that NHS Improving Quality does not currently have its own website; rather it has a page on the NHS England website. NHS England advises that on 15 May 2013 this page had received 12,072 page views (the total number of visits) and 7,877 unique page views (the number of visits to the website during which the specified page was viewed at least once) since its launch on 11 March 2013.

NHS: Reorganisation

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS reconfiguration proposals have been referred to him or his predecessor since May 2010; what proportion this represents of all reconfigurations proposed in that period; and what the outcome was of each referral.

Anna Soubry: Information concerning referrals to the Secretary of State for Health since May 2010 is given in the following table.
	Local cases for the reconfiguration of services are determined by the national health service. As such, we cannot determine centrally what proportion of total reconfigurations this figure represents overall.
	Except where indicated in the table, the Secretary of State for Health commissioned advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, which he subsequently accepted in full on each occasion.
	
		
			 Name of scheme Date referred to the Secretary of State for Health 
			 Changes to homeopathy services (Sefton overview and scrutiny committee) 15 June 2010 
			 Changes to A&E provision at Hartlepool hospital (Hartlepool health overview and scrutiny committee—referral subsequently withdrawn) 17 September 2010 
		
	
	
		
			 Portsmouth—closure of end of life care ward (Portsmouth health overview and scrutiny committee) 6 October 2010 
			 Meeting Patients' Needs—changes to health services in East Lancashire (Lancashire health scrutiny committee) 30 November 2010 
			 Health for north east London (Redbridge health scrutiny committee) 7 January 2011 
			 Health for north east London (outer north east London joint health overview and scrutiny committee) 26 January 2011 
			 Health for north east London (Barking and Dagenham) 7 February 2011 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey clinical review (Enfield health scrutiny panel) 20 February 2011 
			 Closure of Wesham hospital (Lancashire health scrutiny committee—referral subsequently withdrawn) 28 February 2011 
			 Health for north east London (Havering health overview and scrutiny committee) 7 March 2011 
			 The Newark Review (Nottingham health and wellbeing standing committee) 5 April 2011 
			 Review of Nottingham Walk in Centres (Nottingham health and wellbeing standing committee) 5 April 2011 
			 Manchester—relocation of Walk in Centres (Manchester health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee) 31 October 2011 
			 Safe and Sustainable review of children's congenital cardiac services (Yorkshire and the Humber joint health overview and scrutiny committee) 13 January 2012 
			 The Newark Review (Nottingham health and wellbeing standing committee) 17 February 2012 
			 Safe and Sustainable review of children's congenital cardiac services (Kensington and Chelsea environmental health and adult social care scrutiny committee) 27 March 2012 
			 Endoscopy and dermatology services—any qualified provider (Poole health and social care overview and scrutiny committee) 17 July 2012 
			 Safe and Sustainable review of children's congenital heart services (Lincolnshire health scrutiny committee) and currently being processed 27 July 2012 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside—review of vascular services (Wirral health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny board) 31 July 2012 and 27 September 2012 
			 Manchester—relocation of Wythenshawe Forum and Ancoats Walk in Centre (Manchester health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee) 31 August 2012 
			 Safe and Sustainable review of children's congenital heart services (Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland joint health overview and scrutiny committee) and currently being processed 7 September 2012 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside—review of vascular services (Halton, St Helen's and Warrington joint health overview and scrutiny committee) 3 October 2012 
			 Safe and Sustainable review of children's congenital heart services (Yorkshire and the Humber joint healthy overview and scrutiny committee) and currently being processed 27 November 2012 
			 The Friarage (North Yorkshire health scrutiny committee) 20 December 2012 
			 A new Health Deal for Trafford (Trafford and Manchester's joint health overview and scrutiny committee) 8 February 2013 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire—review of vascular services (Cumbria health scrutiny committee) and currently being processed 19 February 2013 
			 North West London—Shaping a Healthier Future (Ealing Council) and currently being processed 19 March 2013 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service—“Being the Best” (Lincolnshire health scrutiny committee) and currently being processed 25 March 2013

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he holds on the number of never events that took place during surgical episodes at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust in each of the last four years.

Daniel Poulter: None. However, we are advised that NHS England operates the Strategic Executive Information System (STEIS) which is used by provider organisations and commissioners to record and manage serious incidents in the national health service, including never events.
	We understand that North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has reported two never events to STEIS. Both occurred as part of surgical episodes after the never events framework was introduced in 2009-10. One occurred in 2010-11 and one in 2012-13.

Nurses

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered nurses worked for (a) each London hospital trust and (b) in all such trusts in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed in the former London Strategic Health Authority area by organisation as at 30 September in each specified year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the former London Strategic Health Authority area and by organisation as at 30 September each specified year 
			 Full-time equivalent 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 51,839 51,785 51,886 
			 Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust (PCT) 18 15 3 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust 1,638 1,866 1,870 
			 Barnet and Chase farm Hospitals NHS Trust 1,301 1,313 1,357 
			 Barnet PCT 278 279 — 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 652 824 798 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 2,435 2,531 — 
			 Barts Health NHS Trust — — 4,488 
			 Bexley Care Trust 7 7 7 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 211 9 10 
			 Bromley Healthcare — — 197 
			 Bromley PCT 236 212 12 
			 Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust 542 492 415 
			 Camden PCT 211 228 — 
			 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust 1,286 1,189 1,591 
			 Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust — 687 957 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1,050 1,040 1,076 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 261 26 16 
			 Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 941 920 884 
			 Croydon PCT 30 — — 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 524 1,059 1,071 
			 Ealing PCT 242 10 11 
			 East London NHS Foundation Trust 888 1,147 1,040 
			 Enfield PCT 196 1 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 1,268 1,322 1,317 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust 1,092 1,061 1,137 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 221 5 5 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 3,026 3,543 3,663 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 37 15 12 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 144 10 — 
			 Harrow PCT 146 — — 
			 Havering PCT 528 449 2 
			 Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 746 753 720 
			 Hillingdon PCT 231 233 7 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 746 1,012 1,018 
			 Hounslow PCT 2 2 2 
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 3,206 3,229 3,165 
			 Islington PCT 222 5 25 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 700 3 3 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 2,154 2,263 2,410 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 764 729 754 
			 Kingston PCT 2 — — 
			 Lambeth PCT 250 4 5 
			 Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust 802 955 950 
			 Lewisham PCT 184 94 86 
			 London Strategic Health Authority 2 1 2 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 320 350 348 
			 Newham PCT 281 — — 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 750 753 — 
			 North East London NHS Foundation Trust 711 714 1,617 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 720 730 694 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 1,501 1,489 1,556 
			 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 794 1,009 1,016 
			 Redbridge PCT 84 85 15 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 292 269 283 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust 1,027 1,079 1,079 
			 Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust 1,547 1,560 1,416 
			 Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust 735 743 994 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 338 351 350 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 1,530 1,472 1,472 
			 South London Healthcare NHS Trust 1,809 1,809 1,745 
			 South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust 693 671 599 
			 Southwark PCT 210 — — 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 2,287 2,319 2,329 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 258 239 — 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 14 14 15 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 304 — — 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2,123 2,202 2,231 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 10 4 3 
			 Wandsworth PCT 15 33 28 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 1,290 1,199 1,080 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 698 638 612 
			 Westminster PCT 8 3 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 1,141 1,162 — 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 783 1,199 1,154 
			 Your Healthcare 141 148 156 
			 Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. As a consequence of TCS (Transforming Community Services) the former provider arm of some PCTs may have transferred into local acute Trusts. This can be seen in the large decreases in PCT staff numbers, and broadly equivalent increases in staff numbers in acute Trusts over time. 3. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. 4. Barts Health NHS Trust was formed on 1 April 2012 by the merger of Barts and The London NHS Trust, Newham University Hospital NHS Trust and Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Obesity and Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health last met Dr Jonathan Valabhji, National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes.

Anna Soubry: I have not met with Dr Jonathan Valabhji since his appointment as National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes for NHS England in April. As Diabetes and obesity are priority areas, I will look to meet with him in the near future.

Organs: Donors

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Welsh Government on arrangements for organ donation following the introduction of presumed consent.

Anna Soubry: Ministers have been in contact with the Welsh Government and discussions are on-going at official level about the policy, financial, operational and legal implications of presumed consent for the United Kingdom donation programme.
	Across the UK, we have made considerable progress over the last five years with a welcome significant improvement in organ donor rates. I wish to be certain that this progress can be maintained.

Osteoporosis

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the treatment of osteoporosis in (a) Hounslow, (b) London and (c) England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold expenditure data on treatment that is specific to osteoporosis as this information is not available centrally. However, estimates of national health service spend relating to problems of the musculoskeletal system are available from programme budgeting data.
	The programme budgeting collection requires primary care trusts (PCTs) to analyse their expenditure by specific healthcare conditions. It is important to note that programme budgeting data cannot be used to analyse changes in investment in specific service areas between years. In order to improve the quality of the data, the calculation methodology is continually refined, as are the underlying data sources which support programme budgeting.
	The following table includes estimated expenditure on 'Problems of the musculoskeletal system' for Hounslow, London and England for the years 2009-10 to 2011-12. Programme budgeting data for 2012-13 has not yet been collected.
	
		
			 Estimated expenditure on problems of the musculoskeletal system 
			 £000 
			 In: 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Hounslow(1) 13,549 23,424 26,008 
			 London(2) 610,652 614,165 677,727 
			 England(3) 4,612,297 5,023,711 5,159,631 
			 (1) Figures for Hounslow are based on the Hounslow PCT return. (2) Figures for London, are based the total estimated expenditure of all PCTs within NHS London Strategic Health Authority for this sub-category. (3) Figures for England are based on the aggregate of all PCT estimated expenditure for this sub-category. Source: Annual PCT programme budgeting returns.

Psoriasis

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what resources he is making available to train general practitioners and other health professionals to implement (a) NICE guidelines on Psoriasis and (b) the NICE Quality Standard for Psoriasis;
	(2)  how he plans to incentivise the uptake of the Quality Standard for Psoriasis when it is published in August 2013;
	(3)  how he is incentivising the uptake of NICE guidance on Psoriasis.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) Psoriasis guideline is not mandatory. It represents evidence-based best practice and we would expect national health service organisations to take it fully into account as they design services to meet the needs of patients. It is for NHS organisations to consider how best to implement the guideline safely.
	In relation to the Quality Standard on Psoriasis, NICE quality standards provide a clear description of what high-quality health and social care services look like and NHS England and clinical commissioning groups are legally required to have regard to them.
	The mandate for NHS England sets out the improvements in health and healthcare outcomes that the NHS is expected to deliver. It is for NHS England to decide how they achieve the objectives set out in the mandate.
	NHS England and NICE share the objectives of facilitating high quality care and improved outcomes for patients, while guiding practitioners and those who support them in providing effective and cost effective practice. We understand that the two organisations have a partnership agreement in place and will work together to enhance the dissemination and adoption of NICE guidance and quality standards.

Radon Gas: Health Hazards

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 361W, on radon gas: health hazards, whether the Health Protection Agency or its successor, Public Health England, has now published the report on the potential areas of public health impact that might arise from the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing; if he will place in the Library a copy of any such report; and if he will supply details of how the report can be accessed online.

Anna Soubry: Public Health England (PHE) is preparing a report identifying potential public health issues and concerns, including radon (release/emissions) that might be associated with aspects of hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as fracking. The report is due out for public consultation in the summer. Once released for public consultation, the report will be freely available from the PHE website.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

Daniel Poulter: Information held by both the Department of Health and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) where available from May 2010 to 31 March 2013 is contained in the following tables, and has been derived from both post code and location details. Responses have been provided for the years that each NDPB has been in existence. Where NDPBs do not hold information, an entry of ‘NIL response’ has been declared.
	The six NDPBs were: NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor, Care Quality Commission, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Human Tissue Authority and Health Protection Agency (HPA).
	
		
			 Department of Health May 2010 to 31 March 2013 
			 Financial year Supplier Amount (£) Brief description of each procurement contract item 
			 2010-11 Frontline Consultants Ltd 32,674 I&I—consultancy services in embedding and sustaining the decision tool as a resource to support the economic case for PPE 
			  Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd 31,438 SO4500—part 11(th) floor, West Wing, Building 1, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, Hammersmith, London W6—Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd—rent 
			  Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd 94,313 SO4500—rental part 11th floor West Wing 26-28-Hammersmith Grove London 
			  Hudson Global Resources Ltd 62,598 Business Case—Commercial Manager David DuPreez— 6 September 2010 
			  Hudson Global Resources Ltd 40,950 FESC Commercial and Financial Lead, May to July 2010 (Turkan Ince, Hudson Global) 
		
	
	
		
			  Search Consultancy Ltd 64,000 Mini tender via OGC Buying Solutions for two Technical Support Managers 
			 2010-11 total  325,973  
			     
			 2011-12 Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd 45,000 SO4500—Hammersmith—Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd—Dilapidations at lease end 
			  Hammersmith Grove Gp Ltd 125,750 SO4500—Hammersmith—Hammersmith Grove Limited Partnership—rent following service of break notice. 
			  Hudson Global Resources Ltd 118,800 David DuPreez—Commercial Manager 
			  Hudson Global Resources Ltd 79,860 Roxanne Clark—Communications Advisor 
			  Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd 127,944 Year six file storage and retrieval contract 
			  Search Consultancy Ltd 26,499 Extension for services of Matt Grey 
			  Search Consultancy Ltd 28,324 Extension for services of Paul Corkrum 
			 2011-12 total  552,177  
			     
			 2012-13 Frontline Consultants Ltd 39,275 Professional services PSBC 2317. Call for Evidence Data Management. 
			  Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd 249,393 Decant of Nelson Filestore 
			  Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd 82,226 File storage and retrieval services 
			  Iron Mountain (UK) Ltd 33,629 File storage and retrieval services ( PO 493599) 
			  The Breastfeeding Network 75,000 Provision of specialist contact centre services to support breastfeeding mothers. Six months at £12,500. Contact Mary Broadfoot 
			 2012-13 total  479,523  
			 DH grand total  1,357,673  
			 Notes: 1. The data were taken from Code DH Business Management System (BMS) on 14 May 2013. 2. Relates to purchase orders (POs) raised for suppliers whose registered address is based in Scotland. 
		
	
	
		
			 Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) 
			 Financial year Supplier Amount (£) Brief description of each procurement contract item 
			 1. Public Health England (on behalf of the Former Health Protection Agency)    
			 2010-11 UK Atomic Energy Authority 27,000 UKAEA pension administration charges—1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 
		
	
	
		
			 2010-11 Richard Irvin Building Services 58,000 Works to install 3 x Broag Quinta 85 wall hung condensing boilers, and remove old. 
			 2010-11 Dieselec Thistle Generators Limited 200,000 5% Retentions 
			 2010-11 Transgenomic Limited 70,000 Wave Navigator Frag Analysis Sys Md14500Ht,220 V Uk 
			 2010-11 Dieselec Thistle Generators Limited 38,000 Replacement generator in the boiler house. 
			 Sub-total 2010-11  393,000  
			     
			 2011-12 Glasgow City Council 30,000 Rates For HPA Glasgow—1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 
			 2011-12 BCF Technology Limited 25,000 Digital X- Ray System 
			 2011-12 UK Atomic Energy Authority 27,000 UKAEA pension administration charges (1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012) 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 94,000 7500 Fast: Rt-Pcr: Ab Assurance Contract (Comprehensive, Parts, Labour Pm) 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 83,000 Ion Torrent Sequencing System as per quote 20777296 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 25,000 7500Qst Fast With Laptop Quote 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 37,000 Train-Sds3 : Well Real Time Per: Viia7 Real-Time Per System With Fast 96-Well Block Module And Notebook Computer 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 37,000 Train-Sds3: Real Time Per; Viia7 Real-Time Per System With Fast 96-Well Block Module And Notebook Computer 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 79,000 Viia 7 Real Time Per System and Taqman Array Card Blocks 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 55,000 Abi Via 7 Real Time Per System 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 26,000 7500 Real Time Per System W/Laptop 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 69,000 Quantstudio Real Time Per Machine, Plus Kits And Training 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd ( Applied Biosystems Division ) 92,000 Seqa, Seqscape, Varrep and Gm (W/Royalty) Sw 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 28,000 7500 Fast Real-Time Per System 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd ( Applied Biosystems Division) 266,000 Upgrade 3730 To 3730X1 With 50Cm Arrays 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 53,000 Viia 7 Fast 96-Well Inst Laptop Computer 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd ( Applied Biosystems Division) 73,000 Quotation number 20801464 upgrade of 3730S S/N 20139-013 
			 2011-12 Bioreliance Biotech Ltd 44,000 Characterisation of E.Coli Cell Banks 
			 2011-12 Life Technologies Ltd (Invitrogen Division) 28,000 Complement 3-4 Week 
			 2011-12 David H Allen (Joiners and Building Contractors) Ltd 85,000 Space Utilisation Project At CRCE Scotland 
			 Sub-total 2011-12  1,256,000  
			     
			 2012-13 Glasgow City Council 31,000 Rates For HPA Glasgow—1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 
			 2012-13 The Placement Group (UK) Ltd 27,000 Med Lab Agency Staff —8 May 2012 to 8 November 2012. 
			 2012-13 Heathrow Airport Limited 220,000 Heathrow Airport Ltd: T3 Rent, Heating And Maintenance Charges 02 
			 2012-13 Heathrow Airport Limited 160,000 Heathrow Airport Ltd: T4 Rent, Heating And Maintenance Charges Ql 
			 2012-13 Heathrow Airport Limited 170,000 Heathrow Airport Ltd: T5 Rent, Heating And Maintenance Charges 04 
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 38,000 7500 Fast Real Time Per System—1 September 2012 to 31 August 2013 Annual Maintenance 
			 2012-13 Heathrow Airport Limited 49,000 Heathrow Airport Ltd: Car Parking Charges Q4 2012/2013 
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 42,000 Service Contract For DNA Analyzer Abi Prism 3730X1—17 February 2013 to 16 February 2016 
			 2012-13 The Placement Group (UK) Ltd 41,000 Med Lab placement agency staff—4 September 2012 to 3 March 2013. 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 28,000. Complement 3-4Week Frozen 100 MI 
			 2012-13 Bioreliance Biotech Ltd 30,000 Characterisation of E.Coli Cell Banks (1 X Mcb and 1X Web) 
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd (Applied Biosystems Division) 53,000 Viia 7 Fast 96-Well Inst Laptop Computer 
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd (Invitrogen Division) 112,000 Equipment: part numbers 4458570,4432470, Ed000650, 4432557, 4432250, 4453546, 4453544,4453543, 4432488 as per quote number 20859386 
			 2012-13 Life Technologies Ltd ( Applied Biosystems Division) 37,000 GBGA0001: Well Real Time PCR and UPS 
			 2012-13 Gen-Probe Life Sciences Ltd 109,000 Panther Platform A Fully Automated Access Molecular Instrument 
			 2012-13 NHS Greater Glasgow 28,000 Supply of electricity and water 2012-2013 
			 Sub-total 2012-13  1,175,000  
			     
			 2. NHS England (on behalf of the former NHS Commissioning Board) — Nil return — 
			 3. Monitor — Nil return — 
			 4. Care Quality Commission — Nil return — 
			 5. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority — Nil return — 
			 6. Human Tissues Authority — Nil return — 
			 Notes: 1. Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish information on the contracts they award on Contracts Finder: www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/ In addition, Departments publish details of spend in excess of £25,000. 2. The results reflect the total amount GBP of contracts and purchase orders (PO), grouped to financial years based upon the date raised. 3. Location has been derived, based upon the post code of the supplier's address, for each contract or PO. 4. Heathrow Airports Limited uses a Purchase 2 Pay Process Team, as part of a shared business service that operates from Glasgow G52 4YG. Although the services relate to rental fees at Heathrow airport, the purchase order was sent to Glasgow, invoices were raised by Glasgow, and payment was remitted to Glasgow.

Social Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department’s analysis of public expenditure on care and support by wealth quintile of care users (2012-13 prices); if he will place the data from which the graph was generated in the Library.

Norman Lamb: A copy of the data underlying this chart has been placed in the Library.

Social Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his statement of 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 593, on social care funding, if he will publish the evidential basis for his statement that up to 100,000 more people will receive financial support with their care further to the implementation of a cap on care costs.

Norman Lamb: The evidential basis is available in the impact assessment on funding reform at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-government-published-a-series-of-impact-assessments-alongside-the-care-bill
	The evidence for the number of people expected to benefit from these reforms is based upon a departmental model that simulates individual care journeys using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The detail of the modelling procedure is provided in annex B of the impact assessment.
	Independent projections from the Personal and Social Services Research Unit project that these reforms will help 115,000 more people in 2030.

Streptococcus

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the potential effectiveness of a point of care test for group B streptococcus carriage in maternity settings; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to develop a point of care test for group B streptococcus carriage in pregnant women considered to be at high risk; what time-scale has been set for the introduction of such a test; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme is planning to publish a call for research proposals in July this year on rapid testing for group B streptococcal colonisation in pregnant women considered to be at high risk.

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not centrally hold all of the information requested.
	The Department provides publicly funded training to its officials via a central corporate training and development budget and also via its directorate's local training budgets. Extracting the information required from these local budgets would incur disproportionate costs.
	Therefore data have only been provided for the corporately funded training only and does not reflect the total Department expenditure on all training and development for its officials.
	The number of officials attending corporately funded training in 2012-13 was 2,151 and 2011-12 it was 1,230. Details of numbers attending prior to 2011-12 were not recorded centrally.
	The total spend for corporately funded training only, over the last five years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Costs (£) 
			 2012-13 578,928 
			 2011-12 347,139 
			 2010-11 1,352,501 
			 2009-10 1,801,041 
			 2008-09 1,926,563 
		
	
	Data on the 10 highest value training courses over the last five years are not available centrally and to extract the data would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Department does not hold centrally information about its non-departmental public bodies publicly-funded training courses. Consequently data were sought from the individual bodies and the information provided has been placed in the Library.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Daniel Poulter: The answer is restricted to those bodies that were executive non-departmental public bodies (ENDPBs) for the periods in question and are still in existence as an ENDPB, or as part of another body.
	(a)Department of Health
	
		
			  Number of officials Amount of travel subsistence reimbursed (£) 
			 2012-13 888 182,859.68 
			 2011-12 911 166,321.37 
			 2010-11 1,119 263,205.80 
			 2009-10 1,305 344,511.94 
			 2008-09 1,254 362,146.50 
		
	
	The monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims is shown in the following table. This includes subsistence for overseas travel which is also used to pay for hotel costs.
	Individual claims can range from one journey up to multiple journeys over a period of three months.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 1 2,156.00 2,840.88 2,063.00 5,695.90 4,648.17 
			 2 2,003.74 1,526.38 1,912.50 5,425.50 2,287.91 
			 3 1,943.00 1,450.69 1,908.05 1,775.39 2,116.00 
			 4 1,641.85 1,253.01 1,811.40 1,664.00 1,947.54 
			 5 1,499.16 1,001.25 1,716.38 1,480.93 1,947.00 
			 6 1,325.41 1,000.00 1,697.64 1,356.93 1,811.43 
			 7 1,298.61 994.00 1,351.72 1,343.13 1,541.50 
			 8 1,172.19 958.00 1,347.50 1,275.00 1,538.80 
			 9 913.21 889.03 1,298.28 1,257.26 1,496.24 
		
	
	
		
			 10 887.18 810.86 1,236.00 1,234.80 1,282.28 
			 11 832.00 796.81 1,207.00 1,207.74 1,269.18 
			 12 812.57 787.50 1,175.10 1,034.48 1,261.60 
			 13 797.03 764.64 1,152.24 1,031.60 1,231.48 
			 14 766.08 752.94 1,127.75 1,030.99 1,226.00 
			 15 761.00 726.11 1,043.00 1,019.80 1,225.00 
			 16 756.89 650.01 1,040.00 1,019.74 1,177.00 
			 17 755.13 640.14 1,035.00 1,011.20 1,177.00 
			 18 735.14 613.42 1,030.00 1,009.57 1,161.16 
			 19 732.33 600.19 861.00 995.97 1,070.16 
			 20 732.33 600.17 857.40 989.78 1,038.44 
		
	
	(b) Non-departmental public bodies
	Health Protection Agency (HPA)—Part of Public Health England from 1 April 2013
	
		
			  Number of officials Amount of travel subsistence reimbursed (£) 
			 2012-13 1,249 190,310.00 
			 2011-12 1,212 245,515.00 
			 2010-11 1,308 204,963.00 
			 2009-10 1,503 227,171.00 
			 2008-09 n/a n/a 
		
	
	The monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims for the HPA is shown in the following table. Data for the financial year 2008-09 are not included as the details are held in an archived expenses system and to retrieve the information would be at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 1 602.25 887.73 963.27 533.66 n/a 
			 2 581.13 744.26 785.20 512.27 n/a 
			 3 550.00 586.47 777.87 473.90 n/a 
			 4 548.99 515.83 689.12 473.90 n/a 
			 5 543.00 499.52 688.00 473.90 n/a 
			 6 486.03 481.32 655.27 473.83 n/a 
			 7 470.03 473.77 609.63 426.00 n/a 
			 8 470.03 465.94 595.01 410.81 n/a 
			 9 453.71 452.16 488.66 407.00 n/a 
			 10 446.22 435.00 477.72 407.00 n/a 
			 11 435.80 425.60 475.00 406.07 n/a 
			 12 427.04 424.70 423.32 399.98 n/a 
			 13 425.02 415.27 423.00 398.55 n/a 
			 14 425.05 407.93 420.00 398.55 n/a 
			 15 422.63 402.12 414.00 393.24 n/a 
			 16 414.62 385.00 412.23 387.12 n/a 
			 17 412.84 367.10 407.93 387.12 n/a 
			 18 408.42 356.13 394.62 375.90 n/a 
			 19 407.00 355.00 393.76 374.99 n/a 
			 20 395.25 348.00 388.40 373.44 n/a 
		
	
	NHS England
	
		
			  Number of officials Amount of travel subsistence reimbursed (£) 
			 2012-13 21 5,188.39 
			 2011-12 n/a n/a 
			 2010-11 n/a n/a 
			 2009-10 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 2008-09 n/a n/a 
		
	
	The monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims for NHS England is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 1 295.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2 266.03 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 3 240.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 4 205.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5 205.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 6 205.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 7 190.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 8 180.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 9 180.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 10 170.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 11 165.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 12 165.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 13 160.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 14 160.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 15 150.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 16 130.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 17 130.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 18 130.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 19 120.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 20 115.00 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
	
		
			  Number of officials Amount of travel subsistence reimbursed (£) 
			 2012-13 52 26,437.00 
			 2011-12 54 27,027.00 
			 2010-11 64 32,307.00 
			 2009-10 57 44,854.00 
			 2008-09 50 48,770.00 
		
	
	The monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims for the HTA is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 1 661.62 595.68 560.92 1,246.36 2,247.63 
			 2 642.22 594.08 479.89 1,163.38 2,186.23 
			 3 547.22 581.30 469.39 1,108.80 1,394.55 
			 4 511.08 558.18 469.39 861.14 1,392.52 
			 5 390.00 518.28 466.49 792.00 1,273.59 
			 6 355.94 509.08 464.89 633.60 1,200.40 
			 7 335.78 505.08 454.89 633.60 1,177.52 
			 8 300.52 391.49 452.89 633.60 1,108.46 
			 9 297.81 352.52 452.89 612.88 767.95 
			 10 291.62 335.75 450.39 529.83 761.38 
			 11 286.18 328.65 450.30 450.04 715.35 
			 12 282.55 301.75 446.49 430.57 659.66 
			 13 271.10 279.40 433.89 429.99 642.00 
			 14 257.43 274.04 425.74 427.00 525.50 
			 15 256.57 262.20 421.00 426.29 518.28 
			 16 255.50 258.25 387.00 423.79 518.88 
			 17 252.00 244.90 356.54 415.96 497.75 
			 18 242.84 243.45 318.75 414.79 464.55 
			 19 234.49 242.65 291.32 401.29 439.65 
		
	
	
		
			 20 234.10 230.76 281.80 397.29 408.10 
		
	
	Monitor
	
		
			  Number of claims(1) Amount of travel subsistence reimbursed (£) 
			 2012-13 325 5,519.08 
			 2011-12 416 4,628.08 
			 2010-11 324 3,347.16 
			 2009-10 n/a 4,962.12 
			 2008-09 n/a 2,922.22 
			 (1) Some officials will have claimed multiple times, and others not at all, so in terms of numbers of people claiming subsistence this would involve interrogating each individual expense claim or designing a bespoke report and could be done only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	The monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims for Monitor is shown in the following table. Top 20 data for the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 are not included as the details are held in an archived accounting system and to retrieve the information would be at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 £ 
			  2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 
			 1 127.05 120.00 135.56 n/a n/a 
			 2 123.83 115.00 97.93 n/a n/a 
			 3 104.08 95.40 90.00 n/a n/a 
			 4 97.35 95.00 77.25 n/a n/a 
			 5 90.00 91.80 74.91 n/a n/a 
			 6 90.00 88.00 74.30 n/a n/a 
			 7 90.00 85.25 66.00 n/a n/a 
			 8 88.15 85.10 65.30 n/a n/a 
			 9 84.00 82.00 64.25 n/a n/a 
			 10 83.82 80.90 64.10 n/a n/a 
			 11 81.12 72.54 62.35 n/a n/a 
			 12 80.00 71.39 60.55 n/a n/a 
			 13 77.20 70.05 60.00 n/a n/a 
			 14 74.54 69.10 53.45 n/a n/a 
			 15 74.23 68.11 53.00 n/a n/a 
			 16 73.20 62.15 51.75 n/a n/a 
			 17 70.10 60.00 44.60 n/a n/a 
			 18 70.05 60.00 39.30 n/a n/a 
			 19 70.00 56.07 38.45 n/a n/a 
			 20 70.00 54.05 38.20 n/a n/a 
		
	
	Care Quality Commission (CQC)
	CQC cannot provide the requested details without incurring a disproportionate cost as their accounting system does not differentiate between travel and subsistence.
	Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
	The HFEA has estimated that, in order to provide the information requested, it would be at disproportionate cost as the data would not be apparent from the accounting entries alone. For senior officials and authority members, all of the HFEA data is published on:
	www.data.gov.uk

Vitamin D

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on the treatment of vitamin D deficiency in (a) Hounslow, (b) London and (c) England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13.

Anna Soubry: NHS Prescription Services captures and holds certain data to allow reimbursement and remuneration to be made to dispensing contractors for items, supplied in primary care for England via FP10 prescription forms and to allow for those costs to be recharged to the prescribing organisation. NHS Prescription Services does not capture the reason for prescribing a particular drug therefore it is not possible to provide the spend on the treatment of vitamin D deficiency.
	However, NHS Prescription Services is able to provide data for the period requested relating to the net ingredient cost (NIC) of drugs contained in the British National Forumulary paragraph 9.6.4: Vitamin D.
	Although the heading of this BNF paragraph is Vitamin D, it does contain products not primarily prescribed for vitamin D deficiency, and there may be some products containing vitamin D that are not included within BNF 9.6.4.
	The following table provides the NIC relating to items contained within BNF 9.6.4: Vitamin D for each financial year as requested. NIC is shown for prescribing in Hounslow Primary Care Trust (PCT), London Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and England.
	
		
			 Net ingredient cost of vitamin D (BNF 9.6.4) 
			 £000 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Hounslow PCT 423,125.62 637,749.33 834,085.45 898,929.69 
			 London SHA 10,623,062.90 14,603,654.96 18,862,173.76 19,755,260.59 
			 England 56,675,115.62 68,356,512.52 78,712,417.66 84,255,089.75 
		
	
	The NIC is the basic price for drugs as described in the Drug Tariff Part II Clause 8. NIC does not include any other cost associated with the prescribing and dispensing items containing vitamin D such as payment for containers and consumables, out of pocket expenses and dispensing fees.
	Source:
	ePACT.net

EDUCATION

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the National Apprenticeship service website as a tool for young people to find apprenticeships since its inception.

Matthew Hancock: The Apprenticeship vacancy website is excellent. It is now widely used as a free recruitment service across England by employers and training organisations to advertise apprenticeship vacancies and by individuals looking to apply for an apprenticeship.
	The number of apprenticeship vacancies advertised this year has increased by 24% and almost 120,000 are expected to be advertised by the end of August. There has been an increase of 35% in the number of applications being made with 958,000 applications in the last nine months.
	The majority of applications are from young people in the 16 to 24 age range, often helping them into their first job and giving them the opportunity to gain valuable skills required for their future career.
	The Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching system itself is under constant review with a programme to update and improve its functionality to make it easier for people to access and use.
	The National Apprenticeship Service actively promotes Apprenticeships and Apprenticeship vacancies to young people and to schools across the country and there are a range of schools resources and literature available on the website:
	http://apprenticeships.org.uk/
	Since January 2011, the apprentice landing page on apprenticeships.gov.uk has had 2.1 million visits. This page provides support and advice for potential apprentices, including real life case studies and how to apply.

Children in Care: Death

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children under 18 years old have died while in care of local authorities in the last 10 years in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of children who die while in the care of local authorities in England is shown in the following table. Figures are given for each English region for the year 2003 to 2012.
	The number of children who die while in the care of local authorities in England is low, typically around 50 children per year. Due to these low numbers and to protect their identities, figures cannot be provided for each individual local authority.
	
		
			 Number of looked-after children who have died while being looked after by a local authority,(1, 2, 3), year ending 31 March 2003 to 2012, England 
			  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 England 60 60 70 60 70 50 50 50 50 40 
			 North East 0 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 North West 10 10 10 10 20 10 10 10 10 (4)— 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 10 (4)— 10 (4)— 10 (4)— (4)— 10 10 10 
			 East Midlands (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 10 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 West Midlands 10 10 10 (4)— 10 10 10 10 10 (4)— 
			 East of England 10 10 10 (4)— 10 (4)— 10 (4)— 10 (4)— 
			 London 10 10 10 20 20 10 10 10 10 10 
			 Inner London 10 10 (4)— 10 10 (4)— 10 10 10 (4)— 
			 Outer London 10 10 10 10 10 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 10 
			 South East 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 (4)— 10 
			 South West (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 10 (4)— 10 (4)— 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) Regional figures do not add up to England total due to rounding. (4) Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. Source: SSDA 903.

Children: Day Care

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has received representations from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in support of the relaxation of childcare ratios.

Elizabeth Truss: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a number of reports that compare the early years systems within member countries, including looking at the different staffing and qualification requirements. The Department for Education has engaged directly with the OECD to better understand its research findings, and to see what its evidence suggests could improve the English system. I have corresponded with Andreas Schleicher, Special Adviser on Education Policy to the Secretary-General of the OECD, who is supportive of improving staff qualifications and says the best education systems prioritise quality of staff over class sizes. He has acknowledged the importance of the proposals in ‘More great childcare’, published by the Government in January 2013, including our intention to bring England more into line with comparable countries.
	Andreas Schleicher said:
	“Results from PISA show that high performing education systems consistently prioritise the quality of their staff over the size of classes. OECD's work on early childhood education (Starting Strong 3) underlines the importance of having staff with proper educational qualifications and that staff qualifications are the best predictor of the quality of early childhood education and care.”

Child Poverty

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the accuracy and effectiveness of the statistics used for measuring child poverty in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: The Government are committed to tackling child poverty and to the Child Poverty Act 2010. However, we do not believe that the targets set in the Act, looked at in isolation, capture the full reality of poverty in the United Kingdom. This is why we have consulted on better measures of child poverty. The targets in the Act, which are separate from the statistics used to monitor them, can drive perverse policy decisions designed to move families above an arbitrary income line, rather than tackling the underlying root causes of poverty.
	The statistical methodology of collecting the statistics is not in question. The relative low income, absolute low income, and combined low income and material deprivation child poverty target measures are sourced from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) publication. This publication has been designated as a National Statistic by the UK Statistics Authority; this means it is fully compliant with the principles in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. These principles include that the statistics be produced using sound methods, and are quality assured, taking account of internationally agreed practices.
	The statistics within the HBAI publication are largely based on data collected through the Family Resources Survey (FRS) which are considered to be robust and of good quality. Like all sample surveys of this type they are subject to both sampling error as well as bias from non-sampling error. However rigorous checks and analysis are carried out to ensure that consistent valid and reliable results are produced which are statistically fit for purpose against the targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Child Poverty

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the likelihood of meeting the child poverty targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: The Government are committed to tackling child poverty and to the Child Poverty Act 2010. The targets in the Act are based on measures of median income and therefore rely on the performance of the economy, on people's behaviours and on Government policy. As the recent IFS report on poverty in Northern Ireland acknowledges, these cannot be predicted with certainty over this time scale. The Government have recently consulted on how best to measure child poverty, reflecting the ongoing commitment to tackling the root causes of poverty.

Child Protection

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to integrate child protection and child sexual exploitation awareness into the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures he has implemented to improve understanding of child sexual exploitation in schools.

Elizabeth Truss: All schools have statutory responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. As part of this, we expect schools to ensure that pupils understand the risks that they may face and how to keep themselves safe.
	Schools can teach pupils about these issues in sex and relationship education (SRE), which is compulsory in maintained secondary schools. When teaching SRE, schools must have regard to the Secretary of State’s SRE guidance, which makes clear that all young people should understand how to avoid exploitation and abuse, and how the law applies to sexual relationships.
	To support schools to deliver high quality SRE, we have asked Ofsted to report on effective practice, as well as providing grant funding to the PSHE Association to undertake work advising schools in developing curricula, improving staff training and promoting the teaching of consent in SRE.

Children’s Centres

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the total number of children's centres;
	(2)  how many children's centres there were in each local authority area on (a) 6 May 2010 and (b) 6 May 2013.

Elizabeth Truss: Information supplied by local authorities on the Sure Start On database showed that at the end of April 2013, there were 3,116 Sure Start children's centres in England. Local authorities tell us that there have been only 35 outright closures since 2010. The rest of the change is a result of reorganisations and mergers of existing centres.
	In many cases, there has simply been a merger of management with children's centre functions still being provided on the same number of sites. It would therefore be inaccurate and misleading to claim that these figures show how many children's centres have “closed” in each local authority.
	The following table shows the breakdown of children's centre numbers by local authority at 30 April 2010 and at 30 April 2013. The Department for Education records these data at the end of each month, based on information supplied by local authorities.
	
		
			 Region Local authority Number of designated children's centres at 30 April 2010 Number of designated children's centres at 30 April 2013 
			 LON Barking and Dagenham 18 12 
			 LON Barnet 20 13 
			 YH Barnsley 19 19 
			 SW Bath and North East Somerset 11 11 
			 EE Bedford Borough 15 15 
			 LON Bexley 16 10 
			 WM Birmingham 75 61 
			 NW Blackburn with Darwen 13 13 
			 NW Blackpool 13 10 
			 NW Bolton 18 18 
			 SW Bournemouth 9 8 
			 SE Bracknell Forest 8 4 
			 YH Bradford 41 41 
		
	
	
		
			 LON Brent 19 17 
			 SE Brighton and Hove 15 13 
			 SW Bristol, City of 31 25 
			 LON Bromley 18 10 
			 SE Buckinghamshire 35 35 
			 NW Bury 14 14 
			 YH Calderdale 16 16 
			 EE Cambridgeshire 40 40 
			 LON Camden 17 15 
			 EE Central Bedfordshire 22 9 
			 NW Cheshire East 19 13 
			 NW Cheshire West and Chester 20 16 
			 LON City of London 1 1 
			 SW Cornwall 40 18 
			 WM Coventry 23 17 
			 LON Croydon 26 13 
			 NW Cumbria 28 28 
			 NE Darlington 7 5 
			 EM Derby, City of 18 18 
			 EM Derbyshire 54 54 
			 SW Devon 43 43 
			 YH Doncaster 21 21 
			 SW Dorset 23 22. 
			 WM Dudley 20 20 
			 NE Durham 43 43 
			 LON Ealing 28 27 
			 YH East Riding of Yorkshire 20 18 
			 SE East Sussex 35 31 
			 LON Enfield 24 24 
			 EE Essex 85 85 
			 NE Gateshead 15 10 
			 SW Gloucestershire 39 39 
			 LON Greenwich 24 16 
			 LON Hackney 20 13 
			 NW Halton 8 8 
			 LON Hammersmith and Fulham 15 6 
			 SE Hampshire 81 54 
			 LON Haringey ¦19 16 
			 LON Harrow 16 6 
			 NE Hartlepool 8 4 
			 LON Havering 14 13 
			 WM Herefordshire 12 9 
			 EE Hertfordshire 82 82 
			 LON Hillingdon 17 18 
			 LON Hounslow 18 18 
			 SE Isle of Wight 8 8 
			 SW Isles of Scilly 1 1 
			 LON Islington 16 16 
			 LON Kensington and Chelsea 8 9 
			 SE Kent 96 96 
			 YH Kingston upon Hull, City of 20 10 
			 LON Kingston upon Thames 11 10 
			 YH Kirklees 32 29 
			 NW Knowsley 15 13 
			 LON Lambeth 29 26 
			 NW Lancashire 79 79 
			 YH Leeds 58 54 
			 EM Leicester, City of 23 23 
			 EM Leicestershire 41 35 
			 LON Lewisham 19 19 
			 EM Lincolnshire 48 25 
			 NW Liverpool 26 17 
			 EE Luton 23 7 
			 NW Manchester 40 39 
		
	
	
		
			 SE Medway 19 19 
			 LON Merton 11 5 
			 NE Middlesbrough 13 9 
			 SE Milton Keynes 20 20 
			 YH NE Lincolnshire 14 10 
			 NE Newcastle upon Tyne 18 15 
			 LON Newham 20 20 
			 EE Norfolk 54 53 
			 YH North Lincolnshire 12 12 
			 SW North Somerset 14 14 
			 NE North Tyneside 12 12 
			 YH North Yorkshire 37 37 
			 EM Northamptonshire 50 50 
			 NE Northumberland 20 20 
			 EM Nottingham, City of 18 18 
			 EM Nottinghamshire 58 58 
			 NW Oldham 16 16 
			 SE Oxfordshire 45 43 
			 EE Peterborough, City of 15 15 
			 SW Plymouth, City of 17 17 
			 SW Poole 8 8 
			 SE Portsmouth 16 16 
			 SE Reading 13 13 
			 LON Redbridge 22 17 
			 NE Redcar and Cleveland 12 7 
			 LON Richmond upon Thames 10 "6 
			 NW Rochdale 16 7 
			 YH Rotherham . 22 22 
			 EM Rutland 2 2 
			 NW Salford 16 8 
			 WM Sandwell 21 21 
			 NW Sefton 15 11 
			 YH Sheffield 36 29 
			 WM Shropshire 18 12 
			 SE Slough 10 10 
			 WM Solihull 14 14 
			 SW Somerset 41 41 
			 SW South Gloucestershire 15 6 
			 NE South Tyneside 12 6 
			 SE Southampton 14 14 
			 EE Southend on Sea 14 11 
			 LON Southwark 21 17 
			 NW St Helens 12 8 
			 WM Staffordshire 54 26 
			 NW Stockport 19 12 
			 NE Stockton on Tees 11 12 
			 WM Stoke on Trent 16 16 
			 EE Suffolk 48 48 
			 NE Sunderland 17 5 
			 SE Surrey 69 58 
			 LON Sutton 14 14 
			 SW Swindon 14 14 
			 NW Tameside 17 17 
			 WM Telford and Wrekin 13 13 
			 EE Thurrock 15 9 
			 SW Torbay 7 2 
			 LON Tower Hamlets 23 12 
			 NW Trafford 16 16 
			 YH Wakefield 23 23 
			 WM Walsall 18 18 
			 LON Waltham Forest 17 6 
			 LON Wandsworth 23 15 
			 NW Warrington 12 8 
			 WM Warwickshire 39 39 
		
	
	
		
			 SE West Berkshire 10 10 , 
			 SE West Sussex 49 45 
			 LON Westminster, City of 15 3 
			 NW Wigan 20 20 
			 SW Wiltshire 30 31 
			 SE Windsor and Maidenhead 10 2 
			 NW Wirral 16 16 
			 SE Wokingham 10 8 
			 WM Wolverhampton 18 17 
			 WM Worcestershire 34 29 
			 YH York, City of 9 9 
			 Total  3,631 3,116

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department does not hold the level of detail in the financial accounting system required to answer this question.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many people in his Department are employed on zero hours contracts.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department does not employ any people on zero hours contracts.

Education: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much capital expenditure there has been in the education sector in Bassetlaw constituency in each year since 2010.

David Laws: The Department allocates capital funding at either a local authority level or to individual schools through Devolved Formula Capital and the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund. The Department does not hold information as to how capital is expended at a constituency level.

E-mail

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he still uses the Mrs Blurt email account to send and receive emails for the purpose of official Government business; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The Secretary of State and his special advisers use equipment and systems provided by the Department and their own IT equipment as appropriate, depending on their location and circumstances. Where information is generated in the course of conducting Government business, it is stored on departmental systems.

English Language: Immigrants

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to support the provision of English language tuition and other educational support for the children of migrant families prior to and during their school years.

David Laws: The Government’s approach is to give school leaders greater power and responsibility to drive improvement in their schools. This provides them with the freedom and flexibility to offer the right learning opportunities for their pupils for whom English is an additional language.
	This approach fits within a broader legal context whereby local authorities have a duty to ensure that education is available for all children of compulsory school age that is appropriate to their age, ability, aptitudes and any special educational needs they may have. This duty applies irrespective of a child's immigration status, country of origin or rights of residence in a particular area.
	The evidence suggests that effective outcomes for children learning English as an additional language (EAL) are achieved by schools promoting rapid language acquisition so that these pupils can be included in mainstream education as quickly as possible. Pupils learning EAL are generally taught in a mainstream class alongside their peers. Newly arrived pupils are usually given additional help in learning English by specialist teachers or by bilingual classroom assistants.
	Advice and case studies on how to help schools address the needs of EAL learners are available on the Department's and Ofsted’s websites.

First Aid: Curriculum

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will commission research on the effectiveness of the introduction of mandatory teaching of CPR skills in the school curriculum in (a) France, (b) Denmark and (c) Norway in order to inform an assessment of the case for such skills being mandatory in England.

Elizabeth Truss: In response to the recent consultation on the national curriculum, we have had representations from a range of organisations setting out the case for including CPR skills. The joint response from the British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council UK provided evidence to support their recommendation, including on international practice. We do not propose to commission additional research.
	We are currently reviewing the consultation responses, including those from organisations and individuals supporting the inclusion of CPR skills, and will publish a final version of the new national curriculum later in the year.

Free School Meals

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that children of recipients of universal credit are automatically (a) entitled to and (b) provided with free schools meals.

David Laws: We estimate that extending free school meal entitlement to all families in receipt of universal credit would result in more than half of children being entitled to free school meals in England, at a cost of up to an extra £1 billion per year. In the current economic climate this is not affordable.
	Universal credit will change the benefits by which children are entitled to free school meals (FSM); but it will not change the process, in education legislation, through which families become entitled. Under section 512ZB of the Education Act 1996, a child or his or her parents must first make a request for free school meals to the school or local authority to become eligible for free school meals. The Department for Education aims to ensure that, as universal credit is introduced from 2013, the new FSM entitlement criteria are easily integrated into local FSM administrative and delivery systems.
	We are working to encourage all families who meet the criteria to register for free school meals. We want disadvantaged children to benefit from a nutritious meal, and their schools to be able to receive pupil premium funding to help raise disadvantaged pupils' attainment.

Free School Meals

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether students attending university technical colleges will be eligible for free school meals.

David Laws: Students attending university technical colleges are entitled to free school meals, in the same way that free school meals are available in all academies.

Free Schools

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what legislative or other powers he has to override the position of a local authority that objects to an education funding agency proposal for a new free school.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency work with approved free school proposers to support the development of each school, including securing a suitable site.
	In some cases, free schools are located on sites owned by local authorities, often through the agreement of a long term lease for a nominal sum. Where a site has been used for a school within the previous eight years, and is no longer being so used or is about to cease being so used, then under the Academies Act 2010 the Secretary of State has powers to make a scheme to transfer land held by a local authority to a person concerned with running an academy or free school.
	The Department for Education does not have a role or any powers in determining the outcome of planning applications for free schools: this role falls to the Local Planning Authority.

Free Schools: Brighton

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will prevent the proposal to build a new free school site on a playing field used by Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Brighton and Hove Sixth Form College and Stanford Junior and Infant schools; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: No decision has yet been taken by Ministers. The plans under discussion mean just 3.6 acres will be used for a much-needed new school—out of a total site of 22 acres. The amount of open space which will still be available to the local community is equal to around 17 full-size football pitches.
	Brighton and Hove is seeing heavy pressure on school places. We want to work with the council to get the right result for Brighton and Hove's children.

Inflation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the purposes for which his Department uses (a) the retail price index measure of inflation, (b) the consumer price index measure of inflation and (c) any alternative measure of inflation.

David Laws: The key purposes for which the Department uses different measures of inflation include:
	(1) The Teacher's Pension Scheme (TPS):
	Pensions and benefits accrued and paid under the TPS are currently uplifted in each year by the consumer prices index (CPI). Furthermore, there are provisions in the TPS relating to historical purchases of additional pension by scheme members, which are indexed by the retail prices index (RPI) in very limited circumstances.
	(2) Published impact assessments:
	In accordance with the guidance given in HM Treasury's Green Book, GDP deflators (a whole economy measure of inflation) are used in published impact assessments to express the costs and benefits of policy proposals in real terms.
	(3) School building and maintenance contracts:
	The Department uses the BIS public sector (non-housing) index (which measures the movement of tender prices for building contracts in the public sector) when setting the maximum price against which contractors may bid for ‘design and build' contracts under the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP). RPIX (RPI minus mortgage interest payments) is used to calculate part of the unitary charge that is paid to providers under long-term private finance agreements, to ensure that payments to operate premises for the life of the contract—typically 25 years—are in line with the costs of providing services like building maintenance.
	(4) Long-term contracts with service providers:
	The TPS is administered under contract by Capita, whose contract fee is uplifted annually by the CPI. Payments in relation to the contract to manage the marking of key stage 2 tests are also linked to the CPI.

Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues on the actions that would result in the suspension or removal of a bonus payment to an official in his Department; what the process is for clawing back such bonuses; and on how many occasions this has happened in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department rewards up to 25% of its highest performing staff based on their performance in the previous year. The awards are retrospective and subject to evidence based moderation. The Department's disciplinary policy allows for the recovery of money given in such awards but there have been no occasions in the last five years when it has been necessary to recover a performance award.

Pupil Exclusions

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children and young people were (a) permanently excluded and (b) temporarily excluded from schools in (i) Barnsley Central constituency, (ii) Barnsley local education authority area, (iii) South Yorkshire and (iv) England in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13.

Elizabeth Truss: The available information on the number of pupil enrolments with a permanent exclusion or with one or more fixed period exclusions in Barnsley Central constituency, Barnsley local authority, South Yorkshire and England is shown in the table.
	Information for 2011/12 will be available in the summer. Information for 2012/13 has not yet been collected.
	
		
			 State-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools(1,2,3,4): Number of permanent exclusions 2010/11: Barnsley Central constituency, South Yorkshire and England 
			  State-funded primary schools(1,2) State-funded secondary schools(1,3) Special schools(4) Total(1,2,3,4) 
			  No. of permanent exclusions % of school population(5) No. of permanent exclusions % of school population(5) No. of permanent exclusions % of school population(5) No. of permanent exclusions % of school population(5) 
			 England 610 0.01 4,370 0.13 110 0.12 5,080 0.07 
			          
			 South Yorkshire(6) 5 0.00 40 0.05 0 0.00 40 0.02 
			 Barnsley local authority 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Doncaster local authority x x 20 0.10 0 0.00 20 0.05 
			 Rotherham local authority x x 16 0.08 0 0.00 20 0.04 
			 Sheffield local authority x x x x 0 0.00 x x 
			          
			 Barnsley Central constituency 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3 )Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies (including all-through academies). (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (5) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) each January. (6) South Yorkshire consists of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities. Note: National and total numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. ‘x’ = less than 5 pupils, or a rate based on less than 5 pupils. Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			 State-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools(1,2,3,4): Number of pupil enrolments receiving one or more fixed period exclusions 2010/11: Barnsley Central constituency, South Yorkshire and England 
			  State-funded primary schools(1,2) State-funded secondary schools(1,3) Special schools(4) Total(1,2,3,4) 
			  No. of pupil enrolments with one or more fixed period exclusion % of school population(5) No. of pupil enrolments with one or more fixed period exclusion % of school population(5) No. of pupil enrolments with one or more fixed period exclusion % of school population(5) No. of pupil enrolments with one or more fixed period exclusion % of school population(5) 
			 England 37,790 0.91 271,980 8.40 14,340 15.66 324,110 4.34 
			      
			 South Yorkshire(6) 1,040 0.94 8,470 10.36 290 13.05 9,810 5.05 
			 Barnsley local authority 198 1.03 424 3.35 x x 630 1.95 
			 Doncaster local authority 173 0.66 3,061 15.15 35 7.06 3,270 7.00 
			 Rotherham local authority 280 1.23 2,100 11.10 21 3.85 2,400 5.69 
		
	
	
		
			 Sheffield local authority 389 0.93 2,884 9.61 232 24.97 3,510 4.80 
			 Barnsley Central constituency 89 1.18 50 1.16 x x 140 1.17 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies (including all-through academies). (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (5) The number of pupil enrolments receiving fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) each January. (6) South Yorkshire consists of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities. Note: National and total numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. ‘x’ = less than 5 pupils, or a rate based on less than 5 pupils. Source: School Census

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what date he plans to publish his Department’s guidance note on the use of pupil premium for learning outside the classroom.

David Laws: The Department has not given schools guidance on how to use the pupil premium as head teachers are best placed to make decisions about how to support their disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between them and their peers. Ultimately, head teachers are accountable for those decisions through their Ofsted inspection and school performance tables.
	The Department has published a series of evidence notes which head teachers can draw on when making decisions about how to spend the pupil premium, available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/premium/how

Schools: Buildings

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department makes available to primary schools to build eco-friendly buildings.

David Laws: The Government are providing over £18 billion of capital support for investment in schools in England over the current four year spending period, 2011-12 to 2014-15; including nearly £4 billion this financial year. How this is spread between primary, secondary and special schools varies according to the specific priorities in each local authority area.
	All new school buildings must satisfy the building regulations, which include requirements for energy conservation and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from buildings. In addition, the Department specifies a sustainable approach to the design and construction of school buildings in its capital programmes. This covers issues such as maximising the use of natural ventilation and daylight in classrooms and minimising water use and waste, both in a building's construction and during its operation.

Schools: Inspections

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to paragraph 18 of the Framework for the inspection of local authority arrangements for supporting school improvement, what criteria he will follow when requesting that Her Majesty's Chief Inspector inspect a local authority.

David Laws: We are currently considering the criteria which would be used to inform any such requests.

Schools: Transport

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the need to update any statutory guidance given to local authorities regarding transport for 16 to 25 year olds with special educational needs following passage of the Children and Families Bill.

David Laws: Local authorities have a legal duty to set out transport arrangements for students aged 16 and over in a post 16 transport policy statement, which they are required to publish every year. These arrangements do not necessarily have to include free or subsidised transport, but the needs and requirements of students must be taken into account, alongside the availability of local resources. The statement should also include the specific arrangements for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged up to 25. The requirements are set out in statutory guidance for local authorities.
	The Children and Families Bill proposes requiring local authorities to publish a local offer of overall educational provision for young people with special educational needs in its area. It includes a requirement on local authorities to include in the local offer information about the arrangements for travel to and from school and post-16 education institutions.
	This will not replace the current post 16 transport duty on local authorities or place any additional requirements regarding the provision of support for transport. We therefore do not plan to update the post 16 transport guidance, which will remain in place. However, subject to passage of the Children and Families Bill, additional statutory guidance in the form of the SEN Code of Practice will be issued; this will make it clear that local authorities will be expected to co-ordinate their activity in support of both sets of responsibilities so that parents and young people have access to clear and current information.

Schools: Transport

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education by what date local authorities need to produce their transport policy statement for students of sixth form age for the 2013-14 academic year.

David Laws: Local authorities must publish their post 16 transport policy statements for the 2013/14 academic year by the end of May 2013.

Secondary Education: Admissions

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in (a) England and (b) Harlow constituency secured places at (i) their first choice and (ii) one of their top three choices of secondary school during the most recent application period.

David Laws: The Department collects data from local authorities on how many families received an offer of a place at one of their preferred secondary schools. The most recent data relate to the start of the 2013/14 academic year. Figures for England and the local authority of Essex, which includes Harlow parliamentary constituency, are given in the following table.
	The figures are gathered at local authority level only so data for Harlow parliamentary constituency are not available.
	
		
			 Applications and offers for entry to secondary schools in England and Essex local authority in academic year 2013/14 
			 Percentage of children: Essex LA England 
			 Offered first preference school 86.9 86.7 
			 Offered one of top three preferences 96.6 96.5 
			 Note: Data collected from local authorities on National Offers day, 1 March 2013. 
		
	
	These figures were published on 26 March 2013 in the statistical first release “Secondary school applications and offers in England: March 2013”, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secondary-school-applications-and-offers-in-england-march-2013

Secondary Education: Kingston Upon Thames

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what timetable he has set for his Department to come to a decision on funding for a secondary free school in North Kingston.

Edward Timpson: We expect to inform all applicants to the latest round of the outcome of their free school applications very shortly.

Special Educational Needs

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether visually-impaired children with special educational needs will be entitled to (a) an education, health and care plan and (b) specialist support from birth where appropriate to their assessed needs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether all children and young people with severe sight loss will receive an education, health and care plan; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Children and Families Bill will ensure that eligibility for an Education, Health and Care plan (EHC plan) remains the same as it is now for a statement of special educational needs (SEN) or post-16 Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA), including for children and young people with a visual impairment. Decisions about whether an individual child or young person will require an EHC plan will be made by local authorities on a case by case basis.
	Many children and young people with a visual impairment currently have a statement of SEN. In 2012 there were a total of 8,900 pupils recorded as having a visual impairment as their primary need. Of these, 5,305 were receiving support through School Action Plus and 3,595 had a statement of SEN.
	EHC plans will be built on a much stronger, streamlined assessment process which includes parents, children and young people, and focuses more clearly on their outcomes and aspirations. This will be underpinned by a new duty in the Children and Families Bill for local authorities and health commissioners to plan and commission services for children and young people with SEN jointly. The Bill includes a duty on the health service to bring a child under school age to the attention of the local authority, where they believe the child has (or probably has) SEN. This will enable earlier identification and provision of support, including for visual impairment.
	Local authorities have duties to support disabled children under the Children Act 1989. Local authority sensory support services work with families from birth to support the child's development. In addition, the Department has awarded a contract to the National Sensory Impairment Partnership costing £1.1 million over two years. This contract includes specific work on Braille support and supporting local authorities to develop an effective local offer for children and young people with sensory impairments.

Special Educational Needs

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure that waiting times for education, health and care plans are shorter than those for the current statements of special educational needs.

Edward Timpson: In March, we published indicative regulations and a draft code of practice regarding special educational needs (SEN), to support parliamentary scrutiny of the Children and Families Bill. The indicative regulations prescribe clear time scales for the assessment and planning process for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, and reduce the maximum time a local authority can take to issue an EHC plan, following a request for assessment, from the current 26 weeks to 20 weeks.
	The indicative SEN regulations and draft code of practice make clear that the time scales are a maximum. Wherever possible, assessment and planning processes should be completed more quickly to meet the needs of children, young people and their families most effectively. The draft code of practice emphasises that there should be effective joint working between agencies to help ensure families and young people do not have to repeat the same information, and save time through avoiding duplication. The SEN pathfinders are demonstrating how to reduce time scales for assessment and planning in practice.

Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education who the members of the (a) School Teachers' Review Body, (b) Office of the Children's Commissioner and (c) Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service were on 1 January 2013; and what the (i) ethnicity, (ii) term of office and (iii) remuneration is of each such member.

Edward Timpson: The names, terms of office and remuneration arrangements for the Children's Commissioner and Board Members of the School Teachers' Review Body and Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service are provided in the following tables.
	The ethnicity of individual members is collected on a voluntary and self-defined basis. This information is classed as “sensitive personal data” under the Data Protection Act 1998. There is, however, information in the public domain which gives an overview of public appointees' ethnicity on an “aggregate” basis. This information can be found in the Cabinet Office document “Public Bodies 2012”, which can be accessed via the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/79258/public-bodies-2012_1.pdf
	The relevant table from this document is replicated for ease.
	
		
			 Public appointments—Ethnicity 
			 Department Total appointments Appointees who have declared an ethnic minority status 
			 Cabinet Office 91 5 
			 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 592 8 
			 Department for Communities and Local Government 91 7 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 450 38 
			 Department for Education 41 8 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 724 23 
			 Department for International Development 19 0 
			 Department for Transport 98 (1)— 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 102 6 
			 Department of Energy and Climate Change 78 (1)— 
			 Department of Health 2,307 158 
			 Export Credits Guarantee Department 8 0 
			 Food Standards Agency 101 (1)— 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 53 (1)— 
			 Forestry Commission 79 (1)— 
		
	
	
		
			 Government Equalities Office 14 (1)— 
			 Her Majesty's Treasury 35 (1)— 
			 Home Office 186 6 
			 Ministry of Defence 374 (1)— 
			 Ministry of Justice 3,251 186 
			 Northern Ireland Office 45 (1)— 
			 Scotland Office 3 0 
			 Total 8,742 464 
			 (1 )Represents numbers of less than five. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1: Children's Commissioner 
			 Children's Commissioner Term of office Remuneration (£) 
			 Dr Maggie Atkinson Appointed for five-year term on 1 March 2010 140,000 per annum 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service 
			 Board member Term of office Remuneration paid in 2012-13 (£) 
			 Claire Tyler (Chair) Three years—appointed 23 January 2012 44,000 
			 Mary Macleod (Deputy) Appointed initially 1 May 2009 Appointment to Deputy Chair 1 April 2012 to 22 January 2015 20,039 
			 Professor Ian Butler Appointed initially 1 May 2009 for three years Appointed for an additional two years on 1 May 2012 10,039 
			 Kamaljit Singh Appointed initially 1 April 2010 for three years Appointed for an additional two years on 1 April 2013 10,039 
			 Terence Connor Appointed initially 1 April 2010 for three years Appointed for an additional one year on 1 April 2013. 10,039 
			 Stuart Smith Three years—appointed on 1 April 2012 10,039 
			 Fay Selvan Two years—appointed on 1 April 2012 10,039 
			 Francis Plowden Three years—appointed on 1 April 2012 10,039 
			 John Lakin Three years—appointed on 4 February 2012 10,039 s 
			 Honor Rhodes Three years—appointed on 15 June 2012 7,975 
			 Geoff Bush (Co-opted member) Two years—appointed on 1 October 2012 4,589 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: School Teachers' Review Body 
			 Board member Term of office Remunerationpaid in 2012/13 (£) 
			 Dame Patricia Hodgson (Chair) Three years—appointed 1 February 2012 19,950 
			 Stella Pantelides Three years—appointed 25 February 2012 (2nd term of office) 9,300 
			 Jill Pullen Three years—appointed 16 December 2012 (2nd term of office) 9,900 
			 Dr Patricia Rice Three years—appointed 1 April 2011 8,700 
			 Jonathan Crossley-Holland Three years—appointed 1 November 2012 3,300 
			 Peter Batley Three years—appointed 1 November 2012 4,800 
			 Debbie Meech Three years—appointed 1 November 2012 4,200

Teachers

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to implement the conclusions of Great teachers: attracting, training and retaining the best: Government response to the Education Committee's Ninth Report of Session 2010-12, First Special Report of Session 2012-13, HC524, published on 16 July 2012.

David Laws: We have reformed teacher training and the best graduates are selecting teaching as a high status profession of choice. 71% of graduates undertaking initial teacher training (ITT) in 2012/13 have a 2:1 or higher degree, the highest proportion recorded. More schools recruit and select their own trainees, work with the accredited teacher training provider of their choice and also tailor courses to suit their own needs. Over 9,400 places have been allocated to schools under the School Direct programme in 2013/14. There are now 360 Teaching Schools representing 301 Teaching School alliances, working together to ensure high quality school-led ITT and offering professional development opportunities.
	New Teachers' Standards and appraisal regulations came into force on 1 September 2012, making it easier for teachers and head teachers to assess teachers' performance. Our reforms to teachers' pay, to be implemented in schools from September 2013, will strengthen the link between pay and performance, and provide head teachers with the flexibility to target any school-level recruitment and retention problems.

Teachers: Pay

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on performance related pay for teachers.

David Laws: The Secretary of State regularly meets leaders in education, trade unions and professional associations to discuss, among other issues, teachers' pay. He has also received and continues to receive a range of correspondence on the issue of pay reform, which includes performance-related pay.
	In addition, formal consultation responses were received following the recommendations of the independent School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) in their 21st Report, which was published on 5 December 2012, and in response to subsequent revisions to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document.

Teachers: Qualifications

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the answer of 24 April 2013, Official Report, column 966W, on teachers: qualifications, how many teachers in secondary schools are teaching subjects in which they do not have a degree in each local education authority.

David Laws: Information in the form requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of teachers teaching individual subjects in secondary schools by the level of their qualification is published in Table 13 of the ‘School Workforce in England, November 2012' Statistical First Release, which is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2012
	
		
			 Table 13: Highest post A level qualifications(1,2) held by publicly funded secondary school teachers (head count) in the subjects(3) they taught to year groups 7-13 in 2012, November 2012, England 
			 Percentage 
			  Highest level of qualification(1) held in a relevant subject(3,4)    
			  Degree or higher(5) Bachelor of Education Postgraduate Certificate of Education Other qualification(6)    
			 Subject(3) % ± CI(7) % ± CI(7) % ± CI(7) % ± CI(7) Any relevant post A level qualification % No relevant post A level qualification % Total head count (thousand) 
			 Mathematics 45.1 ± 1 5.7 ± 0 20.8 ± 1 5.4 ± 0 76.9 23.1 32.8 
			 English 64.4 ± 1 3.4 ± 0 8.4 ± 0 3.7 ± 0 79.9 20.1 36.6 
			                 
			 Physics(8) 55.4 ± 2 2.0 ± 1 7.4 ± 1 1.0 ± 0 65.9 34.1 6.0 
			 Chemistry(8) 66.0 ± 1 1.7 ± 0 7.0 ± 1 1.0 ± 0 75.7 24.3 7.2 
			 Biology(8) 79.0 ± 1 2.5 ± 0 4.8 ± 1 0.9 ± 0 87.1 12.9 8.7 
			 Combined/General science(8) 77.0 ± 1 3.3 ± 0 9.1 ± 0 2.3 ± 0 91.6 8.4 32.7 
			 Other Sciences(8) 77.4 ± 2 2.8 ± 1 2.8 ± 1 1.1 ± 1 84.1 15.9 2.4 
			                 
			 History 63.0 ± 1 2.4 ± 0 5.9 ± 1 1.5 ± 0 72.8 27.2 15.8 
			 Geography 59.7 ± 1 2.4 ± 0 4.8 ± 1 1.2 ± 0 68.1 31.9 14.2 
			                 
			 French 50.1 ± 1 3.6 ± 0 19.3 ± 1 2.3 ± 0 75.3 24.7 14.3 
			 German 52.9 ± 2 1.7 ± 1 13.1 ± 1 1.6 ± 0 69.3 30.7 5.2 
			 Spanish 33.3 ± 2 1.3 ± 0 12.8 ± 1 2.1 ± 1 49.5 50.5 6.8 
		
	
	
		
			 Other Modern Languages 23.5 ± 3 0.2 ± 0 10.2 ± 2 4.8 ± 1 38.7 61.3 3.0 
			                 
			 Design and technology(9) 56.2 ± 1 13.0 ± 1 9.2 ± 1 6.3 ± 1 84.7 15.3 13.8 
			                 
			 Electronics/Systems and Control(9) 59.4 ± 4 15.2 ± 3 5.9 ± 2 3.6 ± 1 84.2 15.8 1.2 
			 Food Technology(9) 45.6 ± 2 14.9 ± 1 9.3 ± 1 9.1 ± 1 78.8 21.2 4.9 
			 Graphics(9) 65.0 ± 2 11.4 ± 1 10.3 ± 1 4.3 ± 1 91.0 9.0 3.6 
			 Resistant Materials(9) 63.0 ± 2 14.6 ± 1 7.7 ± 1 4.4 ± 1 89.7 10.3 4.2 
			 Textiles(9) 61.3 ± 2 9.1 ± 1 10.4 ± 1 6.4 ± 1 87.2 12.8 3.1 
			 Other/Combined Technology(9) 53.1 ± 1 12.3 ± 1 9.5 ± 1 5.8 ± 0 80.7 19.3 15.4 
			 Engineering 16.0 ± 5 0.5 ± 1 0.7 ± 1 1.2 ± 2 18.5 81.5 1.5 
			 ICT(10) 25.8 ± 1 1.7 ± 0 10.4 ± 1 5.1 ± 1 43.0 57.0 16.3 
			                 
			 Business/Economics 55.0 ± 1 4.2 ± 1 4.4 ± 1 20.5 ± 1 84.1 15.9 10.4 
			 Religious Education(11) 33.3 ± 1 2.5 ± 0 8.5 ± 1 13.0 ± 1 57.2 42.8 15.4 
			                 
			 Music 76.3 ± 1 3.6 ± 1 3.7 ± 1 2.3 ± 0 86.0 14.0 7.4 
			 Drama 41.5 ± 1 2.6 ± 0 8.2 ± 1 4.1 ± 1 56.4 43.6 10.5 
			 Art and design 73.8 ± 1 4.3 ± 0 7.0 ± 1 2.1 ± 0 87.2 12.8 12.8 
			 Media Studies 18.5 ± 2 0.6 ± 0 2.4 ± 1 0.9 ± 1 22.4 77.6 6.1 
			                 
			 Physical education 59.2 ± 1 14.1 ± 1 6.7 ± 0 2.7 ± 0 82.6 17.4 24.7 
			                 
			 Citizenship 3.9 ± 2 0.1 ± 0 2.8 ± 2 0.9 ± 1 7.7 92.3 8.2 
			 ‘*’ = Not applicable. ‘—’ = Nil or negligible. (1) Where a teacher has more than one post A level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level is determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree or higher) to right (Other Qualification). For example, teachers shown under PGCE have a PGCE but not a Degree. (2) Not including qualifications in Special Educational Needs provision. (3) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. Head counts are used, so a teacher teaching French and German would be counted once in each. (4) A full list of what was deemed as a ‘relevant' qualification subject for each curriculum subject taught can be found in the SFR home page. (5) Includes Doctorates and other Level 8 qualifications, Masters and other Level 7 qualifications (e.g. Post Graduate certificates and diplomas), first degrees (excluding BEds) and other level 6 qualifications (e.g. graduate certificates and diplomas). (6) Includes Certificate of Education, Non-UK Qualifications where the level was not provided and Other Qualification at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 or 5 and above e.g. diplomas or higher education and further education, foundation degrees, higher national diplomas and certificates of higher education. (7) Confidence intervals have been calculated around the proportions as not all schools were able to submit curriculum information, and not all qualifications returns were complete. Qualifications information was either not provided, or the subject field was missing for 12% of the teachers in schools submitting curriculum data. The confidence intervals show the statistical accuracy for the data, and give a range within which we can be reasonably sure (95% certain) that the true value actually lies. (8) Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry, or physics are treated to teach both combined/general science and other science. (9) Teachers qualified in each of the specialist design and technology subjects are treated as qualified to teach other/combined design and technology. (10) Information and Communication Technology is abbreviated as ICT and Personal Social and Health Education is abbreviated as PSHE. (11) Includes philosophy. Notes: 1. Percentages are row percentages, and based on the number of teachers for whom curriculum and qualifications information was provided. 2. Numbers rounded to the nearest 100 and numbers below 50 are shown as nil or negligible. 3. Totals may not appear equal to the sum of the component parts because of rounding. Base: 163,835 secondary level teachers (unweighted head count). Source: School Workforce Census

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly-funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Elizabeth Truss: The following table sets out expenditure for the Department for Education (and its predecessors) on learning and development. It reflects the data on our Resource Management System against the appropriate learning and development account codes.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2012-13 3.2 
			 2011-12 2.1 
			 2010-11 3.4 
			 2009-10 1.6 
			 2008-09 2.8 
		
	
	In April 2011 the Department's Executive agencies became part of the core Department and figures after that date include their expenditure on learning and development.
	Budgets are devolved to NDPBs, therefore the Department does not hold data on their expenditure.
	We do not hold details of all training courses taken by staff centrally, and could collate details only at disproportionate cost.

Transport: Schools

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much each local authority spent in fulfilling the statutory duties in respect of home school travel arrangements for young people aged up to 16 years in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Laws: The available information on how much was spent on home to school travel arrangements as reported by each local authority for schools in England for the financial year 2011-12 is set out in the following table. This is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  £ 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 
			 Barnet 213,027 
			 Barnsley 1,043,000 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,452,848 
			 Bedford Borough 3,259,072 
			 Bexley 10,000 
			 Birmingham 1,556,371 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 675,592 
			 Blackpool 542,357 
			 Bolton 738,370 
			 Bournemouth 469,594 
			 Bracknell Forest 382,271 
			 Bradford 3,515,238 
			 Brent 12,130 
			 Brighton and Hove 20,519 
		
	
	
		
			 Bristol, City of 204,438 
			 Bromley 38,997 
			 Buckinghamshire 10,957,412 
			 Bury 501,488 
			 Calderdale 1,265,881 
			 Cambridgeshire 10,776,737 
			 Camden 45,264 
			 Central Bedfordshire 3,937,740 
			 Cheshire East 4,754,670 
			 Cheshire West and Chester 1,027,744 
			 City of London 0 
			 Cornwall 9,936,147 
			 Coventry 572,646 
			 Croydon 0 
			 Cumbria 8,701,611 
			 Darlington 1,636,163 
			 Derby 118,201 
			 Derbyshire 2,900,783 
			 Devon 16,580,077 
			 Doncaster 1,000,798 
			 Dorset 7,188,655 
			 Dudley 475,169 
			 Durham 9,247,537 
			 Ealing 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 6,747,717 
			 East Sussex 0 
			 Enfield 77,486 
			 Essex 17,644,786 
			 Gateshead 209,554 
			 Gloucestershire 8,497,140 
			 Greenwich 32,537 
			 Hackney 41,870 
			 Halton 235,032 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Hampshire 10,476,481 
			 Haringey 2,542,037 
			 Harrow 0 
			 Hartlepool 522,985 
			 Havering 321,559 
			 Herefordshire 4,889,270 
			 Hertfordshire 9,214,182 
			 Hillingdon 48,642 
			 Hounslow 0 
			 Isle of Wight 2,926,234 
			 Isles of Scilly 57,426 
			 Islington 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 52,333 
			 Kent 16,549,498 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 5,551 
			 Kingston upon Thames 16,918 
			 Kirklees 837,416 
			 Knowsley 178,317 
			 Lambeth 0 
			 Lancashire 11,899,100 
			 Leeds 3,896,609 
			 Leicester 582,806 
			 Leicestershire 9,180,816 
			 Lewisham 7,528 
			 Lincolnshire 19,426,598 
			 Liverpool 1,870,869 
			 Luton 992,705 
			 Manchester 2,290,034 
		
	
	
		
			 Medway 1,161,298 
			 Merton 154,088 
			 Middlesbrough 523,618 
			 Milton Keynes 3,754,841 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 354,835 
			 Newham 0 
			 Norfolk 12,969,675 
			 North East Lincolnshire 545,861 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,507,250 
			 North Somerset 1,328,822 
			 North Tyneside 536,743 
			 North Yorkshire 18,816,025 
			 Northamptonshire 6,786,499 
			 Northumberland 10,195,821 
			 Nottingham 529,748 
			 Nottinghamshire 5,440,760 
			 Oldham 0 
			 Oxfordshire 9,911,399 
			 Peterborough 1,911,592 
			 Plymouth 352,649 
			 Poole 643,835 
			 Portsmouth 273,156 
			 Reading 239,841 
			 Redbridge 837,811 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,805,936 
			 Richmond upon Thames 39,173 
			 Rochdale 434,292 
			 Rotherham 0 
			 Rutland 946,833 
			 Salford 97,834 
			 Sandwell 307,577 
			 Sefton 188,630 
			 Sheffield 894,802 
			 Shropshire 6,643,002 
			 Slough 302,458 
			 Solihull 659,329 
			 Somerset 11,784,996 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,856,371 
			 South Tyneside 390,289 
			 Southampton 337,307 
			 Southend-on-Sea 275,098 
			 Southwark 4,434,047 
			 St Helens 355,946 
			 Staffordshire 7,803,194 
			 Stockport 758,201 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,278,586 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 765,229 
			 Suffolk 10,675,044 
			 Sunderland 84,661 
			 Surrey 10,991,183 
			 Sutton 0 
			 Swindon 1,153,378 
			 Tameside 758,928 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1,150,233 
			 Thurrock 1,738,208 
			 Torbay 595,853 
			 Tower Hamlets 42,298 
			 Trafford 520,558 
			 Wakefield 3,416,542 
			 Walsall 0 
			 Waltham Forest 0 
			 Wandsworth 78,588 
		
	
	
		
			 Warrington 1,260,936 
			 Warwickshire 10,044,573 
			 West Berkshire 2,164,649 
			 West Sussex 8,504,970 
			 Westminster 0 
			 Wigan 127,539 
			 Wiltshire 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 660,610 
			 Wirral 114,793 
			 Wokingham 985,777 
			 Wolverhampton 696,200 
			 Worcestershire 7,368,233 
			 York 1,548,696 
			   
			 England 426,848,329 
			 Source: Section 251 Outturn 2011-12.

Young People: Mental Illness

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of people of school and college age had one or more psychological conditions in each of the last 30 years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such conditions on the ability of those students to learn.

Edward Timpson: This information is not collected centrally. However, two surveys have been carried out by the Office for National Statistics.
	In 1999, the Office for National Statistics carried out a survey on behalf of the Department of Health, the Scottish Health Executive and the National Assembly for Wales. They found that 9.5% of five to 15-year-olds had a clinically recognisable mental disorder.
	In 2004, they conducted a further survey entitled the ‘Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain’, 2004 (ONS 2005), which stated that 9.6% of five to 16-year-olds had a clinically recognisable mental disorder.
	Attainment data are collected by the Department for Education. The latest figures, released in March 2013, show that young people who were identified as having some form of special educational need (SEN) at age 15 have considerably lower attainment levels at 19 compared to young people without any identified SEN. This is across all forms of SEN, not just those with psychological conditions.

JUSTICE

Bill of Rights Commission

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which people and organisations the (a) Chairman and (b) Secretary of the Commission on a Bill of Rights have met to discuss the Commission’s work since the Commission was established excluding (i) seminars, (ii) meetings with parliamentary committees and (iii) meetings during visits to Strasbourg, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

Helen Grant: The list of people and organisations the Commission on a Bill of Rights has met since it was established in March 2011 is in Annex A in the second volume of the Commission's final report, which was published on 18 December 2012.
	The full report is available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/cbr

Community Orders

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the Crown Prosecution Service has advised the police to dispose of an offence via a community resolution order instead of charging in each of the last three years.

Oliver Heald: I have been asked to reply.
	The Crown Prosecution Service is not involved in advising the police to dispose of an offence via a community resolution order instead of charging.
	A community resolution can be issued by a police officer to both adults and youths as a proportionate response to lower level crime.

Employment Tribunals Service

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the research on non-payment of employment tribunal awards referred to in paragraph 103 of the Government response to Mr Justice Underhill's review of tribunal rules of procedure.

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned IFF Research to carry out this research project and work is currently under way. The final report is due to be completed in late July to early August, after which the findings will be made publicly available.

Fireworks: Fixed Penalties

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fixed penalties were issued relating to the misuse of fireworks in (a) Bassetlaw constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) Nottinghamshire in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme was introduced in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004, under the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Under the scheme, the police are able to issue penalty notices to persons aged 16 and over for a range of offences related to the misuse of fireworks including throwing fireworks, breach of fireworks curfew (11 pm to 7 am), possession of a category 4 firework and possession by a person under 18 of adult firework. All these offences attract the higher tariff of £80. The aim of the PND scheme is to provide operational officers a quick and effective alternative disposal option for dealing with low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending.
	The number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders aged 16 and over for offences related to the misuse of fireworks, in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire police force areas, in each year between 2007 and 2011 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. These data are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
	Information on the use of PNDs in 2012 is planned for publication in May 2013.
	
		
			 Number of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs) issued to offenders aged 16 and over for offences related to the misuse of fireworks, in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire police force areas, 2007 to 2011 
			 Police force area/Offence 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			 South Yorkshire      
			 Throwing fireworks(1) 32 15 14 21 31 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew(2) 3 0 1 1 1 
			 Possession of category 4 firework(2) 2 0 2 2 0 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework(2) 7 0 5 6 6 
			       
			 Nottinghamshire      
			 Throwing fireworks(1) 6 6 13 3 4 
			 Breach of fireworks curfew(2) 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Possession of category 4 firework(2) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework(2) 2 0 2 5 0 
			 (1) Offences under the Explosives Act 1875, S.80: Throwing, casting or firing any fireworks in or into any highway, street, public place etc. (2 )Offences under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 under s11 of the Fireworks Act 2003. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice.

Legal Aid Scheme

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether, within the consultation on reform of criminal legal aid, any consideration has been given to how a service based on geographical areas might impact on specialist firms who may have to act outside their area.

Jeremy Wright: The Government are currently consulting on a proposed model of competitive tendering via the “Transforming Legal Aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system” consultation which closes on 4 June 2013. We have been clear we must continue to bear down on the cost of legal aid, including the £1 billion of taxpayers’ money spent on criminal legal aid a year, to ensure we are getting the best deal for the taxpayer. As we have made clear on numerous occasions, we believe the single most effective way of doing this is to move away from the current complex system of administratively set fees, through the introduction of competitive tendering, where providers compete to offer their services at the best possible price. We are actively engaging with stakeholders on the proposals and welcome all responses to the consultation.
	Under the proposed model, a contract to deliver criminal legal aid defence services in one procurement area would not permit a provider to deliver services in another procurement area except where a case crossed procurement area boundaries. This restriction would only apply to those classes of work against which we propose to set the price by the competition. All other services, for example, prison law services, would not be restricted to delivery in the specific procurement area. However, every contractor awarded a new contract following competitive tendering would be obliged to deliver all services as prescribed under their contract.
	The proposed model would ensure that providers would be guaranteed a specific share of the work available (and control of the case from beginning to end). By awarding longer and larger contracts with greater certainty of volumes, providers would have increased opportunities to grow their businesses, become more efficient, and thereby reduce cost to the taxpayer.
	The Ministry of Justice has provided an impact assessment of the proposals set out in the consultation paper which is based on the data it currently holds and would welcome information on other factors that should be taken into consideration when evaluating the impact of the proposals. The Ministry of Justice would welcome feedback on the proposed model via the Ministry’s website at:
	https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-legal-aid

Legal Aid Scheme: Cornwall

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which providers have been chosen to deliver the (a) Standard Crime, (b) Standard Civil, (c) Family and (d) Community Legal Advice legal aid contract in Cornwall; what the value is of each such contract; and what estimate he has made of the number of people assisted through each such contract.

Jeremy Wright: The providers selected to deliver legal aid contracts in the Cornwall procurement area(1) in the categories of Standard Crime, Standard Civil and Family are detailed in the annex.
	Standard Crime Contracts commenced in July 2010. All face to face civil legal aid work is delivered under a Standard Civil Contract. Contracts for Family work, along with Immigration and Asylum and Housing and Debt commenced in April 2013. Contracts for all other civil legal aid work commenced in November 2010. Organisations may deliver work across more than one category of law/contract but are counted once only in each of (a), (b) and (c) above. Details provided exclude Family Mediation providers.
	Civil Legal Advice (CLA) (formerly Community Legal Advice) specialist telephone advice contracts are national contracts, which are not split into separate procurement areas by region but cover the entirety of England and Wales. Current CLA contracts commenced on 1 April and offer civil legal advice in Family, Housing and Debt, Education and Discrimination. At 9 May 2013 the organisations holding CLA contracts are shown at the annex.
	For the Standard Crime and Standard Civil contracts, there is no ‘value' assigned and as such the Legal Aid Agency cannot provide this information. This is because the contracts issued authorise organisations to undertake work but do not guarantee income. For criminal work, providers are allocated ‘duty slots' in which they obtain clients whose cases arise during that session. For civil face to face work, providers are allocated a number of ‘matter starts' which authorise them to undertake initial advice for clients which attracts a fixed fee. However, cases that subsequently require legal representation are funded on a case by case basis with costs agreed accordingly. For CLA contracts, the contract value in practice is determined by the number of calls received nationally.
	The Legal Aid Agency does not record the number of individuals who receive legal aid. Instead it records the number of ‘acts of assistance'. One individual may receive a number of separate acts of assistance if they have a range of problems or need different levels of service eg advice and representation at Court. Estimates are not made of the total number of acts of assistance at a regional or individual firm level. Although there is an estimation of the number of ‘matter starts’ allocated at a firm and procurement area level (which roughly corresponds to a local authority area) there is no corresponding estimation of certificates granted to individuals. This is because the number of legal aid certificates granted is dependent on the number of applications that satisfy the legal aid eligibility criteria.
	(1) Procurement area boundaries differ by area of law, for example, for the purpose of the Standard Crime Contract, the contracting area (Criminal Justice Service area) that includes Cornwall encompasses the whole of Devon and Cornwall. Detail has therefore been provided for organisations whose procurement area covers Cornwall, although in some instances providers may not be located in this specific area.
	Annex A
	(a) Standard Crime—As at 10 May the following organisations within the Devon and Cornwall Criminal Justice Service area held a Standard Criminal Contract:
	Foot Anstey LLP
	Trobridges
	Almy & Thomas
	Gowmans
	Qualitysolicitors Dunn & Baker
	@Cornwall Law LLP
	Slee Blackwell
	Windeatts
	WBW Solicitors
	Julian Jefferson
	Toller Beattie LLP
	Bazeley Barnes & Bazeley
	Woollcombe & Yonge
	Coodes
	Brewer Harding & Rowe
	Walters & Barbary
	Rundlewalker
	Ralph & Co. LLP
	DB Law
	D B LAW
	Owen Lawton
	Michael Oerton
	C Nicholls Solicitors
	Darby & Darby
	Walker Lahive
	Alan Harris Solicitors Ltd
	Tony Dart Solicitor & Advocate
	Parlbys Solicitors
	Bay Advocates Ltd
	Bay Advocates Ltd t/a Teign Advocates
	Howell Hylton Ltd
	Nunn Rickard Solicitor Advocates
	St James Solicitors
	Hansell Drew & Co. Ltd
	Phoenix Solicitors & Advocates
	Smiths Solicitors
	David Teague Solicitors
	Cox Burley Solicitors
	Michael Crumley Solicitor
	Glanville Robinson Ltd
	Trinity Advocates
	Cornwall Defence Solicitors LLP
	Smith Leaning Criminal Advocates
	Baileys Law LLP
	Boyle Leonard Willden Ltd
	Jacobs & Tricks
	(b) Standard Civil (Non-Family authorisation)—As at 10 May, the following organisations with an office in Cornwall held a Standard Civil Contract with authorisation to undertake civil non-family work:
	Follett Stock
	Coodes
	Preston Goldburn
	CVC Solicitors
	Conroys
	Trobridges
	John Boyle & Co. Solicitors LLP
	Shelter—Cornwall
	(c) Standard Civil (Family authorisation)—As at 10 May, the following organisations with an office in Cornwall held a Standard Civil Contract with authorisation to undertake Family work:
	Blight Skinnard
	Stephens & Scown LLP
	Ralph & Co. LLP
	Brains Solicitors
	C Nicholls Solicitors
	G & I Chisholm
	Walters & Barbary
	DB LAW
	D B LAW
	Trobridges
	@Cornwall Law LLP
	Coodes
	John Boyle & Co. Solicitors LLP
	(d) At 9 May 2013 the following organisations held CLA contracts:
	Family:
	Duncan Lewis
	Cooperative Legal Services
	Housing and Debt:
	Duncan Lewis
	DHA
	Shelter
	Carillion Energy Services
	Education:
	MG Law Ltd
	The Children's Legal Centre
	Tower Hamlets Law Centre
	Discrimination:
	Stephensons
	Howells
	Merseyside Employment Law

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many firms received criminal legal aid payments in (a) Wrexham constituency and (b) north Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The Legal Aid Agency records costs relating to firms by legal aid procurement area, which is broadly based on local authority boundaries. The information requested falls under the remit of the Legal Services Commission, however, the same applies as the information has historically been recorded by local authority.
	This information is provided in the following table in relation to the Wrexham local authority and the north Wales region.
	
		
			 Criminal legal aid firms 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 North Wales: Wrexham 6 7 7 
			 North Wales: Others 23 23 22 
			 North Wales: Total 29 30 29 
		
	
	Please also note that solicitor-advocates are treated as barristers and not included as part of the firm.

Legal Aid Scheme: Wales

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many firms received criminal legal aid payments in (a) Alyn and Deeside constituency and (b) north Wales in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: The Legal Aid Agency records costs relating to firms by legal aid procurement area, which is broadly based on local authority boundaries. The information requested falls under the remit of the Legal Services Commission, however, the same applies as the information has historically been recorded by local authority.
	Therefore, this information is provided in the following table in relation to the Flintshire local authority and the north Wales region, as the Flintshire local authority covers the area of Alyn and Deeside.
	
		
			 Criminal legal aid firms 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 North Wales: Alyn and Deeside (Sir Y Fflint/Flintshire local authority) 6 6 6 
			 North Wales: Others 23 24 23 
			 North Wales: Total 29 30 29 
		
	
	Please also note that solicitor-advocates are treated as barristers and not included as part of the firm.

Parole

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many licence breaches there were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Where offenders are released on license and they fail to comply with their licence conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe for them to remain in the community they can be returned to custody. The total number of recalls for breach of licence conditions in 2010, 2011 and 2012 were 15,424, 16,227 and 16,481 respectively.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoner Transfers

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what reasons were recorded for the transfer of prisoners out of each prison establishment in England and Wales in each year from 2008 to 2012;
	(2)  what the average number of transfers was between prison establishments per inmate serving a sentence of (a) six months or under, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between one and four years, (d) between four and 10 years and (e) over 10 years in each year from 2010 to 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Prisoners are held in establishments that provide appropriate levels of security, are suitable for their gender, age and legal status, provide facilities to reduce their risk of reoffending and, wherever possible, at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.
	We do not generally hold data on the individual reasons for a prisoner's transfer or on the average length of time a prisoner spends in a prison before a transfer. Where this is available, the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it would involve a manual trawl through the individual records of every prisoner.

Prisoners: Families

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners are in the same prison as other members of their family.

Jeremy Wright: This information could be determined only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Mental Illness

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of prisoners have been sectioned in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The number of prisoners directed to hospital for treatment under sections 47 (sentenced prisoners) and 48 (unsentenced prisoners) of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the past five years is set out in the following table.
	The table also shows these numbers as a proportion of the total prison population at the end of each period.
	
		
			  Prisoners transferred to hospital under Mental Health Act 1983 Proportion of total prison population at year end (percentage) 
			 2008-09 990 1.2 
			 2009-10 922 1.1 
			 2010-11 922 1.1 
			 2011-12 947 1.1 
			 2012-13 930 1.1

Prisons: Counselling

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours of counselling are paid for annually from the public purse for prisoners.

Jeremy Wright: The provision of counselling to prisoners often forms a discrete part of a more complex service, a specific psychological intervention for example, which makes it difficult to disaggregate the precise numbers of hours allocated to counselling activity without having to conduct detailed enquiries, incurring disproportionate cost in the process.

Prisons: Visits

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 15 April 2013, Official Report, column 114W, on Prisons: Visits, what the cost to the public purse was of facilitating such visits.

Jeremy Wright: The cost of facilitating inter-prison visits is met locally by individual prison establishments. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Central Accounting System does not record these costs centrally.

Reoffenders

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those released from prison on licence that were (a) low risk, (b) medium risk and (c) high risk committed criminal offences while on licence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the average number of offences committed is by those released from prison while on licence that were (a) low risk, (b) medium risk and (c) high risk in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The figures cannot be provided. The information held centrally on prison discharges (which is used to identify those released on licence) does not currently include an assessment of risk.

Sentencing: Appeals

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the costs and damages ordered by the European Court of Human Rights to be paid to Mr William Beggs in its judgment of 6 November 2012 were paid.

Helen Grant: As Mr Beggs was tried and convicted under Scottish criminal law the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in this case, including the payment of any costs and damages, is the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Arms Trade: Exports

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which countries have received official UK Government invitations to the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition in September 2013.

Michael Fallon: A list of countries invited by the UK Government to Defence and Security Equipment International 2013 (DSEI 2013) will be released on the UK Trade and Investment website on 10 September 2013 which is when the exhibition opens. A copy of the list will be sent to the hon. Member at that time.

Clothing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have made a claim for evening dress allowance in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of such claims has been.

Jo Swinson: Within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (including UKTI Admin) between 1 December 2011 and 1 May 2013 there were a total of 23 claims for reimbursement for the costs of formal wear. The total cost of these claims was £2,807.85. Prior to this date these costs were not recorded separately within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Staff are entitled to reimbursement for hiring formal wear if they are required to accompany Ministers or represent the Department at official functions. They should not be left out of pocket from carrying out their official duties. The Department is rigorous in ensuring that all claims are legitimate and necessary.
	The information relating to claims within non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Community Development Finance Institutions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential for community development finance institutions to (a) lend to businesses and charities and (b) create jobs; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) undertook an evaluation of the Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) sector in spring 2010. The report highlighted the ability of CDFIs to be efficient vehicles for improving access to finance in under-served markets. BIS has continued to work closely with the sector through liaison with the Community Development Finance association (CDFA).
	Currently Government provide support to CDFIs through the following interventions:
	Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The CDFA has received £30 million under the first round of the RGF. This has been matched by Co-op Bank and Unity Trust to create an overall fund of £60 million for CDFIs to onward lend to SMEs and social enterprises.
	Start-Up Loans. Around 18 CDFIs are currently lead parties in delivery consortia for the Start-Up Loans scheme. A further 8-10 CDFIs are also involved in providing back office functions and/or volume lender provision to other delivery partners. To date the Start-Up Loans scheme has provided around 3,900 loans to new start up businesses.
	The Government's Community Investment Tax Relief scheme has enabled CDFIs to raise around £90 million to date for onward lending into the sector.
	BIS has also flexed the criteria of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG), 13 accredited CDFIs now benefitting from access to the scheme.

Construction Industry Training Board

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many small and medium-sized construction enterprises are paying levies to the Construction Industry Training Board.

Matthew Hancock: The number of micro, small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) that paid the Construction Industry Training Board levy in 2012 was 24,949.
	A further 40,064 SMEs in the construction industry did not pay the levy as their total payroll costs fell below the small firms' exemption threshold.
	Note:
	These categories are based on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of SMEs. In other words:
	Medium-sized: 50 to 249 employees
	Small: 10 to 49: employees
	Micro: 0 to 9: employees.

Construction Industry Training Board

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the thresholds for payments to be made by small and medium-sized construction enterprises to the Construction Industry Training Board were last changed.

Matthew Hancock: The small firms' exemption threshold for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Levy was last changed in 2009 when it was increased from total payroll costs of £76,000 to £80,000.
	CITB introduced a ‘taper' in 2012 such that employers with total payroll costs between £80,000 and £100,000 are only required to pay 50% of their levy liability.
	Proposals for the exemption threshold levels are included as part of levy consultations with employers, and so are agreed by employers and subject to Levy Order approval through Parliament.

Credit: Interest Rates

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of payday loans made in (a) total and (b) in each region in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) payday lending compliance review estimated that the total number of payday loans made in 2011-12 was between 7.4 and 8.2 million. Government are not aware of estimates covering the periods 2010-11 and 2012-13. However, Consumer Futures estimated that the total number of payday loans in 2009 was 4.1 million. Government are not aware of any estimate of the number of payday loans in each region.
	We are very concerned about the mounting evidence that consumers are experiencing significant problems with payday lending across all regions. That is why on 6 March we announced a strong action plan for tackling the key problems in this market, alongside the regulators. In the immediate term, payday lending is a top enforcement priority for the OFT. They are taking strong action against the leading 50 payday lenders after uncovering evidence of widespread irresponsible lending. The full outcomes of this action should become apparent over the forthcoming months, with some early results already clear. The OFT also expect to announce in June whether to refer the payday market to the Competition Commission.
	Over the longer term, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is prioritising consideration of tough new rules that payday lenders will be subject to once the FCA takes over the regulation of consumer credit in April 2014. Payday lenders will face much more stringent authorisation and enforcement procedures from April 2014.

Export Credit Guarantees: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to strengthen international environmental standards relevant to UK Export Finance to include limits on emissions of greenhouse gases.

Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on 17 July 2012, Official Report, columns 115-16WS, that the UK will seek to promote the strengthening of relevant World Bank Group international standards to include limits on emissions of greenhouse gases.

Exports: North East

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK Trade and Investment export trips were made from the North East to (a) the European Union and (b) Eastern Europe; and how many companies from the North East and of what size went on them in each of the last three years.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in the North East region have supported the following number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), less than 250 employees, within the last three years.
	In 2010/11, (a) two market visits within the European Union of which 13 SMEs received a UKTI subvention and (b) one market visit to Eastern Europe of which two companies received a UKTI subvention.
	In 2011/12, (a) two market visits within the European Union of which 13 SMEs received a UKTI subvention and (b) no market visits to Eastern Europe.
	In 2012/13, (a) four market visits within the European Union of which 18 SMEs received a UKTI subvention and (b) two market visits to Eastern Europe of which seven SMEs received a UKTI subvention.

Foreign Investment in UK

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's press notice of 9 May 2013, on inward investment and the London 2012 Olympics, how much of the additional £2.5 billion in foreign direct investment arising from the Olympics went to (a) Wales and (b) other nations and regions of the UK.

Michael Fallon: In the period up to the end of March 2013, £21.54 million of investment went into Wales arising from the Olympics.
	Investment into other nations and regions of the UK is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 East Midlands 3.86 
			 London 1006 
			 North East 19.43 
			 North West 30 
			 Scotland 115 
			 South East 81 
			 South West 716 
			 West Midlands 410 
			 Yorkshire 59.34

Foreign Investment in UK

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's press notice of 9 May 2013, on inward investment and the London 2012 Olympics, how many of the 31,000 additional jobs arising from the £2.5 billion in foreign direct investment to the UK as a result of the Olympics were in (a) Wales and (b) other nations and regions of the UK.

Michael Fallon: 498 additional jobs arose for Wales from the £2.5 billion in foreign direct investment to the UK as a result of the Olympics up to the end of March 2013.
	Other nations and regions of the UK received the following number of additional jobs:
	
		
			  Number 
			 East Midlands 51 
			 London 14,928 
			 North East 7 
			 North West 315 
			 Scotland 850 
			 South East 553 
		
	
	
		
			 South West 12,550 
			 West Midlands 1,160 
			 Yorkshire 150

Fraud

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services. However we are using expertise across the Department and its partner organisations for counter-fraud and related activities.
	I have asked chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 16 May 2103
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15 May 2013, to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, UIN 156473.
	Companies House does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	Letter from Richard Judge, dated 17 May 2013
	The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	The Insolvency Service is currently in the process of transitioning its main IT service provision from IBM to Atos. Whilst the new contract with Atos does not provide specific counter-fraud measures, once our relationship with them has been fully established, we expect to benefit from improved monitoring that will assist in the identification of potentially fraudulent activity.
	The Insolvency Service does use two other companies for information gathering in connection with our counter fraud activities. These are Dun and Bradstreet and Experian.
	Letter from John Alty, dated 17 May 2013
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 15th May 2013, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property is a Trading Fund and Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	Letter from Peter Mason, dated 17 May 2013
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 15 May 2013, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) about companies used to provide counter-fraud activities and related services.
	NMO uses a company to conduct annual penetration tests to ensure that its information technology systems are safe from unauthorised access. NMO also uses the facilities management contractors, AMEY, to ensure site security by means of e.g. cameras, security guards and lighting. NMO does not use Atos in any respect.
	Letter from Kim Thorneywork, dated 17 May 2013
	Thank you for your question in asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	Please be advised that the Skills Funding Agency does not use Atos or any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	In future, it will procure these services, when required, using the Government Procurement Service Consultancy ONE framework for Financial Audit and Investigation.
	Letter from Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB, dated 17 May 2013
	As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, “if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services”.
	Ordnance Survey does not use Atos or any other company to provide such services.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	Letter from David Parker, dated 16 May 2013
	Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills asking if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and does not use (i) Atos or (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	Letter from John Hirst, dated 17 May 2013
	I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 15 May 2013, UIN 156473 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Met Office has not used Atos for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	The Met Office Counter-Fraud Officer has attended seminars and workshops provided by the PWC Fraud Academy and the Fraud Advisory Panel and uses counter-fraud resources available on the Transparency International UK website.
	I hope this helps.
	Letter from Alasdair Lewis, dated 16 May 2013
	I write on behalf of Land Registry in response to Parliamentary Question 156473 tabled on 15 May 2013 which asked the following:
	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if (a) his Department, (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) his Department's executive agencies use (i) Atos and (ii) any other company for the provision of counter-fraud activities and related services.
	Land Registry does not use Atos for the provision of counter-fraud activities. We do use a range of technological based solutions to combat registration fraud, for example a credit reference supplier. Any external services currently play a small part in our overall strategy. Land Registry does not disclose the services being consumed or the identity of individual suppliers so as not to provide fraudsters with valuable information.
	I hope you find this information useful.

Further Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider increasing investment in tertiary education to bring it in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.

David Willetts: The UK has an efficient tertiary education system that performs above the OECD average for both the entry and the completion rate for academic degrees. Relative spending levels do not indicate the quality of a system.
	There are a number of indicators reporting on tertiary education expenditure in the OECD’s annual publication “Education at a Glance”. These figures are constructed on the basis of internationally agreed definitions and concepts which are not perfectly aligned with our own domestic measures. In international terms, tertiary education corresponds broadly to the UK concept of higher education.
	The OECD figures suggest that, in the UK, total funding per full-time equivalent student is a little above the OECD average, although the balance between public and private expenditure is more heavily weighted towards the private sector, largely because of our system of tuition fees and student loans. The Government provides a significant level of financial support to students during their studies, designed to ensure that financial limitations do not discourage students from less affluent backgrounds in pursuing tertiary qualifications.

Green Economy Council

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings of the Green Economy Council have been held since February 2011; what proposals and recommendations it has issued to Ministers; and if he will place on his Department's website copies of all papers discussed at the Council since its inception.

Michael Fallon: The Green Economy Council has met five times since it was convened in February 2011.
	The Council's role is to advise Government on policy development; copies of minutes and papers have therefore not been placed in the Library or on the Department's website.

Higher Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government are taking to ensure the international competitiveness of UK universities.

David Willetts: The Government recognise the important contribution that our higher education (HE) institutions make to the UK through teaching, research and income from export activities. Our HE institutions have a world class reputation for quality which underpins their strong presence in international university league tables, recruitment of international students and in attracting international academics and funding to support research. Government support this competitive position through a range of activities such as:
	The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) which reviews and reports on how well UK HE institutions maintain quality and standards in accordance with the UK Quality Code for Higher Education. This system has a global reputation for success and has influenced parallel developments overseas.
	The UK's research funding regime which supports activity of the highest quality and impact. Government funding for research has been protected in the current challenging economic climate, which gives our institutions confidence to continue investment research and related programmes.
	Promoting UK HE institutions overseas, through bilateral visits and missions to key overseas partners and the development of agreements, such as the UK India Education Research Initiative and participation in Brazil's Science without Borders programme. This activity aims to enable opportunity for a wide range of UK institutions, covering areas such as international student recruitment, the creation of partnerships between individual institutions and the joint funding of research and programmes.

Higher Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider increasing investment in innovative research and development in UK universities to bring it in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.

David Willetts: According to OECD figures, in 2010, 27% of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the UK was performed in the HE sector—above the OECD average of 19%.
	The Government recognise the importance of innovative research and development in UK universities and that is why, despite very difficult fiscal circumstances the £4.6 billion per annum funding for science and research programmes has been protected in cash terms and ring-fenced against future pressures during the spending review period.
	In addition to the £1.9 billion of capital funding announced in the 2010 spending review a number of announcements have been made for additional capital expenditure in research and innovation totalling £1.5 billion. This includes £300 million for the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund which will enhance the facilities for world class university research, by levering at least double that amount of co-funding from the private sector and charities.

Higher Education: Admissions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to reverse the decline in applications to universities in England and Wales by students from India and Pakistan.

David Willetts: Applicants to UCAS (undergraduates) from India increased from 2011 to 2012 and applicants to UCAS from Pakistan declined:
	
		
			 Applicants to UCAS (undergraduates) from India and Pakistan 
			 Year of entry India Pakistan 
			 2008 3,030 2,601 
			 2009 3,287 2,402 
			 2010 3,552 2,348 
			 2011 3,441 2,081 
			 2012 3,602 2,056 
			 Note: Entrants to higher education institutes in England and Wales from India and Pakistan decreased from 2010/11 to 2011/12. Source: UCAS 
		
	
	
		
			 Entrants by domicile English and Welsh HEIs 
			  2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 India    
			 Postgraduate (PG) 17,220 17,000 11,220 
			 Undergraduate (UG) 3,550 4,935 3,620 
			 Total 20,770 21,930 14,840 
			     
			 Pakistan    
			 Postgraduate (PG) 3,485 3,940 2,755 
			 Undergraduate (UG) 1,310 1,565 1,365 
			 Total 4,795 5,510 4,120 
			 Source: HESA 
		
	
	The Prime Minister's visit to India featured higher education strongly on the agenda. I accompanied my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, leading a large delegation of UK Vice Chancellors, who participated in an education roundtable, and interacted directly with students in Janki Devi college, Delhi and publicised a number of new partnerships and scholarships.
	The British high commissioner, James Bevan, has made higher education a central theme in many of his public speeches. For example, he listed the top 10 reasons to study in the UK in a speech on 23 November 2012
	www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-education-the-best-for-the-brightest
	and was published in the Indian national press.
	The UK's ongoing support for student recruitment is delivered in a number of ways including:
	Promotion via press releases, social media and speeches by the high commission, British Council, and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
	British Council Services for International Education Marketing. These are paid for services for the UK higher education (HE) sector to support their work in India including attendance at the UK education exhibitions or university visits. There are two main exhibitions each year which reach over eight key cities in India, and there are also now virtual exhibitions so that students can "tour" UK universities at other times of the year.
	Global Education UK website—a student facing web portal to help students in thinking of studying in the UK.
	Additionally many universities carry out work directly in India: some have their own offices, use their alumni or sign up agents to promote their institutions.
	In the next two years, we aim to reverse the trend in applications from prospective Indian students to UK universities. Through the British Council, we will use outreach events, social media, and other marketing measures to target young Indians, their families and education agents to underline the quality and value of a UK higher education. We will work in close partnership with UK universities themselves.
	In the past year the GREAT campaign funded 60 jubilee scholars from India. These students came from over 20 states across India and they will be spending one year in the UK undertaking a full time master's programme. These students will become ambassadors for future students. In addition a promotional film was made on "There's never been a better time to study in the UK". This film was screened across the MTV and CNN IBN networks over a three month period.
	BIS supports the UK education sector and the research councils to establish partnerships between UK and Indian HE institutions and also supports this work in the longer term. Through joint programmes, joint research and other collaborative activity there is potential for student exchange to be included in their partnership arrangements.
	The UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) is a five-year joint UK and Indian Government programme with the objective of enhancing the education and research relationship between India and the UK. The first phase ran from 2006 to 2011 and phase two was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in July 2010 to run from 2011 to 2016. The programme is worth £5 million per year and focuses on four strands: leadership development, innovation partnerships, skill development, and enhancing mobility. The Research Council's UK partnership with India is worth over £100 million in joint research programmes and future activities to promote early researcher exchanges will form part of their work in collaboration with the UKIERI programme.
	Pakistan
	The British high commission, UKTI and the British Council work together to promote the UK as a destination of choice and the UK is the number one choice for Pakistani students to study higher education outside of Pakistan.
	For example, the high commission in Islamabad are running a Chevening scholarship programme and their ‘Celebrating Connections' campaign aims to improve awareness of the links between Pakistan and the UK to further improve perceptions of the UK in Pakistan. The campaign spans education, trade and culture. ‘Education is GREAT’ branding is used at events and in publicity.
	UKTI supported a UK based event management company to organise an education fair earlier this year. Over 30 UK universities visited the market and participated in the fair.
	The British Council run regular campaigns across the core cities in Pakistan and last year these included:
	Employers' road-shows in Pakistan and the UK for Pakistan employers to meet with and discuss potential employment with Pakistani students studying in the UK and also have done the same in Pakistan. This has been very successful for students returning from the UK and also as an incentive for prospective students. These activities have taken place in five cities and involved over 100 employers.
	Regular education fairs, exhibitions and campaigns working with media partners.
	On line information and support campaigns to support students access linked to higher education institutions in the UK.
	The British Council work with education agents to provide effective training and high quality advice for prospective students and work with key Pakistani agencies such as the higher education commission on postgraduate studies in the UK.

Higher Education: Gender

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government are taking to promote gender equality between academics in UK universities.

David Willetts: The responsibility for staff equality matters rests with higher education institutions (HEIs), as the employers. In the annual Grant Letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Government have encouraged the sector to continue to address long standing equality issues, including more diverse representation at senior levels in HEIs.
	Higher education institutions receiving grant funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England also have to meet the requirements of the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 and advance equality of opportunity.
	The Equality Challenge Unit, an independent higher education sector body, provides higher education institutions with support on all equality matters and works directly with institutions to help them tackle under-representation among staff groups.
	One example of the work it undertakes is the Athena SWAN Charter which recognises and celebrates good employment practice for women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education and research.
	Membership is open to any university or research institution committed to the advancement of the careers of women in SET. BIS provides some funding for Athena SWAN via the Royal Society as part of our science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) Diversity Programme.

Higher Education: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much research and development funding universities in Wales received from central Government in the last year for which figures are available.

David Willetts: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data of income to higher education institutions show the following research grant income from central Government received by universities in Wales in 2011-12:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Higher Education Funding Council recurrent research grant 71.1 
			 BIS Research Councils research grants 51.0 
			 UK central Government bodies(1) 46.2 
			 (1) This includes UK central Government bodies, local authorities, health and hospital authorities. Note: BIS Research Councils research grant data excludes income from The Royal Society, British Academy and The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Source: HESA Finance Statistics Return 2011-12 Tables 5a and 5b-available at: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_collns&task =show_colln&Itemid=232&c=C11031&s=5&wvy=any&wvs=1&isme=l

Insurance Companies: Billing

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to encourage insurance companies to sign up to the prompt payment code;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of late payment by insurance companies on small businesses;
	(3)  if he will launch a specific campaign to encourage insurance companies to pay small businesses promptly.

Michael Fallon: In November I wrote to the chief executives of companies in the FTSE350, including a number of insurance companies, urging them to sign up to the Prompt Payment Code (PPC). Three quarters of FTSE100 companies are now signatories. Insurance companies that have signed up to the code include Aviva plc, Admiral Group plc, Direct Line Group and Hastings Insurance Services Limited. A full list of companies signed up to the code can be found at:
	http://ppc.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/ppc/signatory_paged.a4d
	The Government understand how much of a strain late payment can put on all businesses (not just those affected by insurance companies) and have been actively working with both business and the finance community to understand where Government intervention can be helpful.
	We will continue to work to strengthen the PPC and encourage greater membership and explore the challenges of late payment in concert with business bodies.

Iron and Steel: Research

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the management of Tata Steel on the continuing operation of research and development facilities in Teesside and Rotherham; and what assistance his Department plans to provide to ensure that research and development facilities for steel technologies in the UK are enhanced.

Michael Fallon: BIS Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Tata Steel management on a range of issues of importance to the company. In a statement to its workforce on 29 April, Tata Steel reiterated its commitment to retaining a strong R and D capability in the UK.
	Government assistance is available to help the UK steel industry to finance research and development; this includes programmes funded by the Technology Strategy Board. The steel industry also has opportunities to participate in collaborative R and D projects funded by the EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel.

Legal Costs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on external legal advice (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012.

Jo Swinson: The Department's financial system has recorded the following expenditure for the periods requested against legal advice and services and legal consultancy:
	
		
			  Expenditure (£) 
			 (a) 7 May 2010 to 4 September 2012 4,938,652 
			 (b) since 4 September 2012 1,084,892

Legal Costs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent in total on external legal advice from QCs (a) between 7 May 2010 and 4 September 2012 and (b) since 4 September 2012.

Jo Swinson: The Department’s financial system does not differentiate between the different levels of external legal advice provided. However, expenditure recorded for the periods requested against legal advice and services, and legal consultancy is as follows:
	(a) 7 May 2010 to 4 September 2012: £4,938,652
	(b) since 4 September 2012: £1,084,892.

Legal Costs

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the highest day rate paid for external legal advice by his Department is since 7 May 2010.

Jo Swinson: This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legal Costs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the top 20 highest amounts paid for external legal advice by his Department were in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; to whom they were paid; and for what reasons the legal advice was sought.

Jo Swinson: This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking with the automotive industry to promote the UK as the best location for research, development and commercial application of driverless technology in the automotive industry; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The joint industry/government Automotive Council has identified intelligent mobility, which encompasses more efficient management of vehicles and roads—including driverless road vehicles—as one of five strategic technology themes. Work is under way in the council to produce a technology roadmap for intelligent mobility.
	A Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Special Interest Group (SIG) and Steering Group was established in January 2013 that will produce a technology roadmap and a high level strategy over the next year. The Robotics and Autonomous Systems SIG and Transport Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) held a joint road mapping workshop on 14 May 2013. A representative of the Automotive Council attended this workshop to ensure cross-linkage with their work. The outputs will help to define the likely time frame and actions required to establish a world leading science base and RAS industry in the UK.
	The Transport Systems Catapult, which has been established by the Technology Strategy Board, will focus on innovation for efficient and sustainable ways to move people and freight across national transport systems and will support businesses in bringing innovative products and services to market.

Patents

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many patents have been registered in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Jo Swinson: Patents having effect in the UK may be obtained by one of two routes: either from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) or from the European Patent Office (EPO). In each case the respective office conducts a thorough examination procedure before granting a patent. The numbers of patents granted by each route in calendar years 2002-11 are shown in the following table. The numbers of patents granted by the IPO are reported in the IPO's annual fact and figures publication, available from
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/whatwedo/ourpublications/ourpublications-review.htm
	Data for 2012 are due to be published shortly. Numbers of patents granted by the EPO with effect in the UK are taken from the EPO Worldwide Patent Statistical Database.
	
		
			 Calendar year Patents granted by IPO Patents granted by EPO Total 
			 2011 7,173 58,360 65,533 
			 2010 5,594 54,106 59,700 
			 2009 5,428 48,287 53,715 
			 2008 5,360 55,623 60,983 
			 2007 5,930 50,837 56,767 
			 2006 7,907 58,349 66,256 
			 2005 10,159 49,501 59,660 
			 2004 10,541 54,468 65,009 
			 2003 9,761 55,519 65,280 
			 2002 8,690 43,900 52,590

Pay: Liverpool

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Liverpool are currently paying the living wage and above; and if he will take steps to introduce a national living wage.

Jo Swinson: Information on how many businesses pay above the living wage is not available.
	The Government support businesses that choose to pay the living wage however decisions on what wages to set, above the national minimum wage, are for employers and workers. There are no plans to introduce a national living wage.
	Our primary policy to support the low paid is through the national minimum wage. The aim is to help as many low-paid workers as possible, while making sure that we do not damage their employment prospects by setting it too high.
	The Government recognise that these are tough times and are doing absolutely everything they can to help those on low pay with the cost of living. That is why the Government are cutting income tax for the low paid and have taken 2.4 million people out of income tax altogether since 2010.
	Changes to the personal allowance mean that from April 2013, someone on the minimum wage working 29 hours a week will no longer pay income tax and someone working full time (35 hours) on the minimum wage will have seen their income tax bill cut by more than half since 2010.
	Most employers choose to pay their employees more than the minimum wage. It is up to them to decide whether they wish to sign up voluntarily to pay a ‘Living Wage'.

Regeneration: North West

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what amount of funding was spent by the North West Development Agency on regeneration in Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of this funding.

Michael Fallon: Information to enable this Department to provide an answer to the question raised would incur disproportionate costs as the records of the North West Regional Development Agency are now mainly held in archive.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) monitors and collates the costs of regulations introduced by the Department through the statement of new regulation process. This involves taking a strategic look at forthcoming measures to see how regulatory costs and benefits will meet the targets under one in, two out. The estimated costs and benefits of all measures are assessed through impact assessments which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee. All in-scope legislation is also subject to post-implementation reviews to ensure that it is not imposing burdens on business that are disproportionate and/or have not been anticipated.
	BIS has been involved in nine Red Tape Challenge themes, which reviewed over 750 regulations. Following consultation with business and civic society, we have committed to scrap or repeal over 50% of these regulations. On two of our early themes, we have already delivered over 75% of the regulatory repeals or simplifications we committed to in the retail theme, and over 50% from the manufacturing theme. Implemented Red Tape Challenge measures are published in the statement of new regulation.

Regulation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; and which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended;
	(2)  if he will provide the estimated cost of each regulation introduced by his Department since May 2010; and what the estimated benefits of each regulation (a) amended and (b) revoked were.

Jo Swinson: The one in, one out rule was introduced on 1 September 2010 and applied to regulations introduced from 1 January 2011. One in, two out replaced the one in, one out rule and has applied to regulations introduced from 1 January 2013. Details of regulations introduced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) that fall within the scope of one in, one out (OIOO) or one in, two out (OITO) are published in the statements of new regulation and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's announcement of 26 March 2013 of £31 million of funding for new nuclear technology, what amount has been set aside for (a) new renewable technology in the UK, (b) enhancements in that sector's supply chain and (c) increased opportunities to commercialise new renewable technologies in that sector; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Department's announcement of 26 March 2013 of £31 million of funding was for new nuclear technology only.
	The Government expect to invest in excess of £800 million in this spending review period directly to support a broad portfolio of innovative low carbon technologies, including renewables.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the size of the global renewables market; what steps he is taking to develop long-term partnerships to enable UK businesses to compete in this market; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Global investment in all clean energy assets is expected to increase from $189 billon in 2012 to $630 billion in 2030(1).
	UKTI is developing partnerships in many markets, including China, Taiwan, India and Northern Europe. UKTI continues to support UK companies at key global exhibitions in the UK and overseas and through ministerial visits to build relationships with governments, business and academic institutions.
	(1 )Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what analysis he has made of the economic benefits of improving the UK’s supply chain capabilities for (a) onshore wind, (b) offshore wind, (c) solar power, (d) marine energy, (e) geothermal and (f) other renewable energy technologies; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The 2011 Renewable Energy Roadmap updated in December 2012 sets out the Government’s approach to supporting the development of key renewable energy technologies, including encouraging a UK-based supply chain.
	Offshore wind is one of 10 sectors across the economy that is considered of strategic importance to the UK economy and BIS is leading work to develop an industrial strategy for offshore wind which will set out the economic benefits from improving the UK’s supply chain capabilities.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has carried out a review of the research and development landscape in the UK for renewable energy technologies; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: On behalf of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Energy Strategy Fellow, Professor Jim Skea, to develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.
	The Government also completed a review of the low carbon innovation landscape in 2011 which focused on enhancing the delivery of publicly funded innovation support for low carbon innovation technologies. A copy of the review is available in the Library of the House.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish a renewables industry vision statement to allow UK industry to present its ambitions over the next 40 years; if he will make an assessment of whether such a policy would (a) ensure the development of a vibrant UK renewable industry, (b) position the UK as a strong player in the global renewables market, (c) set out how the renewable industry can be an area of economic and strategic national strength and (d) form the start of a commitment for the renewables industry to work more collaboratively with Government in pursuit of a vibrant and globally respected UK industry; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: Renewable energy will have a strong role to play alongside nuclear and gas and with increased deployment there will be economic opportunities. This is why the Government announced three energy industrial strategies partnered by industry. We have published strategies for the nuclear and oil and gas sectors and a strategy for offshore wind will be published in the coming months. This will set out Government and industry actions to create a vibrant and strong supply chain for offshore wind and the economic benefits associated with it. The Offshore Wind Industry Council, which I co-chair, met for the first time on 16 May, to build the strong and effective partnership between Government and the industry.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the establishment of a renewables research and development advisory board; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme has a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which advises on the strategic direction, scientific content and co-ordination of research and development (R and D) within the Energy Programme.
	Representatives from BIS, the Technology Strategy Board and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) attend the RCUK Energy SAC meetings held three times a year. The membership also includes representatives from universities and business.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will develop research and development roadmaps for renewable energy technologies to ensure the UK is able to make informed decisions on future renewable options beyond 2020; if he will ensure that these roadmaps analyse the advantages of (a) the realisation of industrial benefits, (b) the development and exploitation of intellectual property internationally and (c) being seen as a credible international partner; if he will include in any such roadmaps the research outcomes that would support implementation of future technology pathways and detailed illustrative timelines as examples of these pathways; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Government and their key partners in the Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group (LCICG) have developed Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs) to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low carbon innovation. The aims of TINAs are to identify and value the key technology innovation needs that deliver the greatest benefit to the UK. Building on the TINAs, the LCICG is currently working with industry to develop a strategy for low carbon innovation. This will set out a shared LCICG vision of its members' aims, principles, approach and priorities within technology families for public investment between now and 2020. The intention is for this strategy to be published in autumn 2013.
	In 2011 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a Renewable Energy Roadmap that sets out how we are going to reach our goal of generating 15% of our energy use from renewables by 2020. The Roadmap focused on seven key technologies, including offshore wind, marine energy and biomass heat, with a further update to add solar photovoltaics in December 2012. Deployment of these and other renewable technologies could bring significant investment and jobs to the UK. Between 1 April 2011 and 31 July 2012, DECC collated renewable industry announcements totalling around £12.7 billion confirmed and planned investments, with the potential to support of around 22,800 jobs.
	The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Professor Jim Skea as a Strategy Fellow for the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme in May 2012. Professor Skea will develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape to meet the UK 2050 climate change targets.
	The roadmap will be developed over five years and updated annually in light of new technological developments and policy change. During this time the Fellow will consult with stakeholders in the research community, government bodies including DECC and the private sector to map out systems of energy innovation for a range of countries and technologies. The Energy Technologies Institute will also provide support and industrial expertise for the development of the roadmap documents. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies procured from companies based in Scotland of a value in excess of £25,000 since May 2010; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such procurement contract.

Jo Swinson: This information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the contracts they award at:
	www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/

Student Loans

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, column 73W, on fraud-error and debt, what estimate he has made of the annual savings to the Student Loans Company from the introduction of a check first before paying approach; and what the annual level of fraud reported by the Student Loans Company prior to the introduction of a check first before paying approach was since 2005.

David Willetts: Fraud detection and prevention are key areas of work for the Student Loans Company (SLC). The SLC has always applied a check first before paying approach, but is continuously looking to improve the quality of the data and tools it has to support that approach. It continues to make a valuable contribution to the counter fraud activities of the taskforce sharing good practice developed with support from a range of public and private sector partners. The following table provides a breakdown of the savings made by the SLC through its counter fraud work since 2011-12 when it was able to use new fraud prevention tools.
	
		
			 Financial year Savings from counter-fraud activities (£) 
			 2011-12 2,268,697 
			 2012-13 13,579,907 
			 Total 15,848,604

Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible enrolled in publicly-funded training courses in each of the last five years; what the total cost has been of such courses; and what the monetary value was of the 10 highest training course fees in each such year.

Jo Swinson: The majority of the BIS training budget is delegated to the individual business units. This enables them to target resources to their learning priorities. BIS does not centrally collate details of individual course attendances.
	The spend on training in core BIS since its inception in 2009 is
	
		
			 £ 
			  Spend Average spend per head 
			 2009/10 4,190,088 1,144 
		
	
	
		
			 2010/11 2,340,575 710 
			 2011/12 2,662,967 879 
			 2012/13 2,070,999 658 
		
	
	The focus of centrally managed spend in 2011/12 was on performance management and in 2012/13 was on civil service learning delivered leadership and management courses.
	BIS does not collect learning data from its non-departmental public bodies.

Travel

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses in each of the last five years; what the total cost was of such claims; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each such year.

Jo Swinson: Information on how many officials have claimed reimbursement for travel subsistence expenses, together with the monetary value of the 20 highest subsistence claims in each of the last five years is not held centrally within the Department, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following expenditure has been recorded within the Department's financial system against the subsistence reporting point:
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure (£) 
			 2008/09 556,633 
			 2009/10 481,719 
			 2010/11 326,912 
			 2011/12 224,262 
			 2012/13 211,921 
			 2013/14 (up to 13 May 2013) 27,725 
		
	
	These data exclude non-departmental public bodies as this information is not held centrally within the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Exports

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider subjecting the export of components of unmanned aerial vehicles to strategic export controls.

Michael Fallon: Components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are already subject to strategic export control if they are: (a) specially designed or modified for military use; or (b) specified in the EU dual-use control list. These controls are agreed in the international export control regimes and apply to the items with the greatest strategic importance.